Tyres and its types

     A tire (or tyre) is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel's rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance. Pneumatic elastomer tires, such as those for automobiles and bicycles, provide traction between the vehicle and the road while providing flexible cushion that absorbs shock.

The fundamental materials of modern pneumatic tires are synthetic rubber, natural rubber, fabric and wire, along with carbon black and other chemical compounds. They consist of a tread and a body. The tread provides traction while the body provides containment for a quantity of compressed air. Before rubber was developed, the first versions of tires were simply bands of metal that fitted around wooden wheels to prevent wear and tear. Early rubber tires were solid (not pneumatic). Today, the majority of tires are pneumatic inflatable structures, comprising a doughnut-shaped body of cords and wires encased in rubber and generally filled with compressed air to form an inflatable cushion. Pneumatic tires are used on many types of vehicles, including cars, bicycles, motorcycles, trucks, earthmovers, and aircraft. Metal tires are still used on locomotives and railcars, and solid rubber (or other polymer) tires are still used in various non-automotive applications, such as some casters, carts, lawnmowers, and wheelbarrows.

All Season Tyres

All season tyres work well on all road surfaces and are adaptable to all weather conditions. However they are not specialised for any particular condition and may lack road holding ability. They may also have reduced tyre grip unlike tyres suited for conditions such as the snow. All season tyres should therefore always be in excellent condition in order for them to perform in all weather condition

Run Flat Tyres or Pax Tyres

A recent development in the tyre industry, run flat tyres have proved to be popular. Run flat tyres allow the car to continue moving safely, even once the tyre has developed a puncture. They are generally fitted on vehicles that are not equipped with a spare tyre .

The two main technologies used are the "Reinforced Tyre Sidewalls" and the "Rubber Rim Clips". Rubber rim clips can be placed on any tyre rim subsequently reinforcing the side wall and enabling the tyre to support the car's weight. Different rubber compounds have been used in order to support the weight of the car, even with no air pressure in the tyre. This in turn drastically reduces the risks of an accident. Cars equipped with run flat tyres allow the driver to complete their journey at a reduced speed.

Eco Tyres

Environmentally friendly tyres have been designed to reduce fuel consumption without affecting they tyre or vehicles overall performance.

"Low rolling resistant tyres" are manufactured by adding silica in with the tread compound of the tyre, which in turn will affect the amount of energy a tyre can absorb whilst it is turning. The lower the resistance caused during "rolling", the lower the vehicles fuel consumption will be.

Traditionally, reducing the resistance and thus the fuel consumption has come at the cost of losing tyre grip in wet conditions. However Eco tyres now combat this as the Silica technology in the tyre means manufacturers are able to improve both wet grip and the tyres rolling resistance. What's more, according to Michelin, eco tyres can save the average motorist around £65 a year.

Nitrogen

Inflating your tyres with a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen is completely safe and in theory this will help to counteract the issue of slow deflation which is caused by oxygen slowly infusing out of the tyre through the tyre wall and into the atmosphere. Although this is not yet standard practice, motor sport and aviation professionals have been putting this theory into practice for years.