An introduction to Nankang Tire Technology

OUTLINE

Tire Structure Introduction1

Tire Sidewall Description2

Tire Production Process3

Tire Pattern and Characteristics4

Tire Structure Introduction

Tire components

Tire StructureTire Structure

Tread─ For excellent road handling and water drainage.

Material Synthetic and natural rubber

Functions1.Wear Resistance2.Heat Generation Resistance3.Puncture Resistance

Because the tire tread connects with road directly, wear resistance, heat generation resistance, and Puncture resistance are important necessaryelements in pattern design. Moreover, tread compound should be flexible and resistant to age.

Inner Liner ─ Makes tire airtight and prevents air from leaking.

The Inner lining of rubber located inside the carcass rubber prevents air leaking from thetire. A Tire sidewall mark as” STEEL BELTED TUBELESS” means it's not necessary to use atube.

Material Butyl rubber

Functions Prevent air leaking

Carcass (Textile cord plies) ─Keep tire in fixed shape.

The tire carcass is a framework to support and fix the tires shape after its been inflated.

Material Rayon or polyester

Functions Maintain tire shape when pressure inflated.

Steel Belt- Keep tire stability and handling performance

The Steel belt maintains high shear stress, it also transits from hard tire tread to soft sidewall.Tire steel cord must be high strength and resistant to fatigue.

Material High-strength steel cords

Functions1. Keeps tire shape and directionalstability.2. Reduces rolling resistance.

Sidewall─ Provent damage to tire lateral side.

A Radial tire sidewall bending deformation is larger than the Bias tire , therefore it needs bending resistance compound for tire sidewall.

Material Natural rubber

FunctionsProtect tire casing from lateral damage.

Bead Filler ─ For tire steady ability, handling performance, and comfort level.

A harder bead filler made from rubber is normally used to enhance the

tire sidewall to ensure radial tire steel layer is kept intact.

Material Synthetic rubber

Functions1.Enhances handling ability.2.Gives steering precision.3.Improves comfort.

Nylon Full Cover (Jointless plies)─ Protect tire structure in high speed condition.

A Traditional Nylon cover coated method is usedto enclose an entire layer of tire after the engagement.

Material Nylon, embedded in rubber

FunctionsEnhances high-speed stability.

Tire Sidewall Description

3.Tire Sidewall Description

3.1Tire Size Designation

PCR:305/35R24 112V

LTR:31X10.5R15LT 109S7.50R16 122/120LLT215/75R15 100/97H

3.1Tire Size Designation (PCR)

305 / 35 R 24 112 VSpeed Symbol

Load Index

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Aspect Ratio

Nominal Section Width (m/m)

3.1Tire Size Designation (LTR)

31 X 10.5 R 15 LT 109 S

Nominal Overall Diameter (in.)

Nominal Section Width (in.)

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Tire Function

Load Index

Speed Symbol

3.1Tire Size Designation (LTR)

7.50 R 16 122/120 L

Nominal Section Width (in.)

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Load Index (Single/Dual)

Speed Symbol

3.1Tire Size Designation (LTR)

LT 215 / 75 R 15 100/97 S

Tire Function

Nominal Section Width (m/m)

Nominal Aspect Ratio

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Load Index (Single/Dual)

Speed Symbol

3.1Tire Size Designation-Tire Dimension

Low Aspect Ratio(%) High Aspect Ratio(%)

COMFORTCOMFORT

SPORTSPORT

80 Series80 Series70 Series70 Series

65 Series65 Series

~55 Series~55 Series

60 Series60 Series

High aspect ratio tire provide comfort, where as a Low aspect ratio tire leans towards the more sport related performance tire.

OuterDiameter

RimDiameter

Inch Up

Tire Inch Up Characteristics:1.Enhance the handling stability2.Enhance Cornering Performance3.Less comfortable when driving4.More road noise

3.1Tire Size Designation-Speed & Load IndexLoad Index (LI)

Max load per individual tire

LI Kg LI Kg

69 325 84 500

70 335 85 515

71 345 86 530

72 355 87 545

73 365 88 560

74 375 89 580

75 387 90 600

76 400 91 615

77 412 92 630

78 425 93 650

79 437 94 670

80 450 95 690

81 462 96 710

82 475 97 730

83 487 98 750

Speed Index (SI)

SI Max speed for passenger car tire

Q 160 km/h / 99mph

R 170 km/h / 106mph

S 180 km/h / 112mph

T 190 km/h / 118mph

H 210 km/h / 130mph

V 240 km/h / 150mph

W 270 km/h / 169mph

Y 300 km/h / 187mph

ZR Exceeding 240 km/h / 150mph

3.2 UTQG

Uniform Tire Quality Grade, UTQG, by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA regulated. It is comprised by Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature.

UTQG is required by law for most passenger car tire (PCR), but it is not required for LIGHT TRUCK TIRES, WINTER TIRES, TEMPORARY SPARE TIRES, TRALIER TIRES, AND TIRES UNDER 12”

3.2 UTQGTREADWEARTreadwear means tread lifespan compared to standard tires index 100. Tread wear grades typically range from 60 to 500, each increment of 20 units. In fact tire wear conditions caused from road quality, driving attitude, tire inflation pressure, and vehicle condition.

TEMPERATURETEMERATURE grades range from A, B to C. It represents that tire under the indoor high speed testing conditions, tires properly maintain the cooling capacity until damage.

TRACTIONTraction test only on specific wet concrete road or asphalt road in a straight line moving forward. Grades range from AA, A, B to C. AA is the best performance.

3.3 DOT

DOT Code means tires comply with U.S. Department of Transportation

(DOT) safety standards.

The first two letters represent tire manufacturer and factory code. The 3rd and 4th letters mean tire size.The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th letters represent tire specific function (SPEC). The 9th and 10th of the letter marked the week of tires production. The last number indicates the year of tires production.

Tire Production Process

1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH

MIXINGMATERIAL

PREPARATION

BUILDING

And

CURING

INSPECTION

Production Flow Chart

Tire Building Procedure 1.Building Process

305/35R24 112V N-990 →Inner Liner Extruding→Carcass Cutting→Jointless Bead Building→Combine bead with Carcass→Auto Steel Belt Cutting System→Jointless Cover System→Tread Extruding and Cutting →1st and 2nd Steps combination

2.Curing Process

3.DB and UF Inspection

4.Indoor High Speed and Durability Test

Tire Testing

1.Safety Test

2.Off-Road Test

3.Rolling Resistance Test

4.Noise Test

5.Cornering Test

6.Braking Test

Tire Pattern and Characteristics

These are major factors for tire pattern design.

2.Handling performance.

3.Drainage ability.

1.Excellent grip traction on wet/dry roads.

And………..5.A Charming Tire.

4.Avoid irregular tread wear.

Tire Basic Design Theory Rib Pattern: 1.Reduce tire rolling resistance. 2.The rib pattern tire used to adopt as comfort ability tire. Lug Pattern: 1.Offer excellent handling and braking ability for off road.Rib-Lug Pattern:1.Center Rib: Handling, Stability and Skid proof ability.2.Shoulder Lug: Handling and Braking ability.Block Pattern:1.Offer excellent handling and braking ability. 2.Keep stability at snow and mud road

Tire Category and Characteristic

2. Non-directional Symmetric Tire─XR-611

1.Directional Symmetric Tire─NS-2

3. Non-directional Asymmetric Tire─AS-1

1.Directional Symmetric Tire─NS-2

Disadvantage1.Tire pattern cause noisy.2. Recognize tire direction when mounting/

switching.

FL FR

Advantage1.Excellent handling2.Grip traction 3.Drainage ability

2.Non-directional Symmetric Tire─XR-611

Disadvantage1.Tire handling2.Traction 3.Drainage ability

Advantage1.Low noise. 2.No need to recognize the direction of tire when mounting/switching.

3. Non-directional Asymmetric Tire─AS-1

Disadvantage1. Recognized the inside/outside part when

mounting or switch tires.

Advantage1. Outside pattern: Advanced handling, traction

and drainage ability.2. Inside pattern: Low noise, comfort ability.