ACTIVATOR: Describes a substance used to speed up the process of curing a tire.
ADHESION: Denotes the ability of a tire to grip the surface of the road.
ALL-SEASON TIRE: Describes a type of tire with a more aggressive tread pattern for dealing with winter road conditions as well as summer.
ASYMMETRICAL TREAD: Describes a type of tire with different shapes/patterns and grooves in the same tire.
BALANCE PATCH: Describes a factory-installed patch to bring a new tire within quality control balance tolerances before distribution and sale. The patch is placed inside the tire casing and looks much like a nail hole repair patch.
BEAD: Describes the portion of a tire that fits onto the rim of the wheel.
BEAD BREAKER: Describes the device used to remove a tire from its rim
BEAD EXPANDER: Describes the device used to mount tubeless tires that prevent inflation air from escaping and bring the tire beads against the tapered bead rim.
BEAD SEAT: Describes the portion of a wheel rim below the rim flange that provides radial support to the tire's bead.
BELT: Describes the reinforcing band, typically produced in textile, fibreglass, or steel, which runs around the circumference of a tire and strengthens the tread area.
BIAS BELTED TIRE: Describes a type of tire construction in which bias plies, as well as a belt of steel or synthetic (rayon, nylon, or fibreglass) cords between the carcass and the tread, are present.
BIAS PLY TIRE: Describes a tire with two or more carcass plies arranged in a crisscross manner and diagonally to the beads and travels approximately one-third of the distance around the circumference before attaching to the other bead. Also known as a "cross-ply tire."
BUFF LINE: Describes the dividing line in the cross-section of a tire between the buffed surface of the original tire and the new re-tread rubber.
BUTTRESS: Describes a thick rubber reinforcement in the shoulder of a tire that provides support at the edge of the tread, limits shoulder area flexing, and protects the shoulder of off-road tires.
CAMBER THRUST: Describes the side force generated when a tire rolls with camber.
CASING FACTOR: Describes that portion of the load supported by tire casing stiffness instead of air pressure.
CEMENT: Describes an adhesive rubber compound dissolved in a solvent used to provide building tack and cured adhesion for tires.
CHAFER STRIP: Describes the area between the bead and sidewall of a tire.
CONTACT AREA: Describes the part of the tire touching the ground at any particular moment.
CONTACT PATTERN: Describes the visible wear pattern created by two parts that touch each other.
CONVENTIONAL CROSS PLY: Describes a type of tire with two or more carcass plies arranged in a crisscross manner and diagonally to the bead. Each cord in the next ply is positioned in the same way but the opposite direction.
CROWN WIDTH: Describes the distance of a tire tread shoulder to shoulder measured along the buffed contour.
DEFLATION WARNING SYSTEM(DWS): Describes a system that allows for online detection of tire pressure loss. The system uses the wheel speed sensors of an existing ABS to monitor wheel speed and tire condition continuously and trigger a warning signal upon detecting a problem.
DEMOUNTABLE FLANGE: Describes a side ring or side and lock ring combination that retains the tire on the rim, removable to allow tire mounting or removal.
ENVELOPE: Describes a thin rubber wrapper surrounding the tread, sidewall tucked inside the curing rim during the pre-cured re-treading, protecting bonding materials from humidity within the chamber.
FABRIC FATIGUE: Describes the term describing a situation when the fabric in car tires degrades due to repeated flexing and heat exposure result in a condition known as cord breakdown.
FOOTPRINT: Describes the area of a tire that makes contact with the ground.
FULL CAP: Describes a condition in tire re-treading where new tread rubber is added to the buffed casing and covers the crown and shoulder areas.
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