Tires and Wheels

CHAPTER 21
Tires and Wheels
OBJECTIVES
After studying Chapter 21, the reader will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Prepare for ASE Suspension and Steering (A4)

certification test content area E (Wheel and Tire
Diagnosis and Repair).
Discuss tire sizes and ratings.
Describe tire purchasing considerations and
maintenance.
Explain the construction and sizing of steel and
alloy wheels and attaching hardware.
Demonstrate the correct lug nut tightening
procedure and torque.
Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

By James D. Halderman
Copyright 2010, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1995 Pearson Education, Inc.,

Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All rights reserved.
KEY TERMS
Aspect ratio
Back spacing
Bead
Belt
Body ply
Bolt circle
Carcass ply
Center section
Conicity
DOT tire code
E-metric tire
Green tire
High-flotation tires
Hydroplaning
Inner liner
JWL
LRR

Load index
Lug nuts
Major splice
Offset
Ply steer
Rim width
Run-flat tires
Schrader valve
Sidewall
Speed ratings
Spider
TPC
Tread
Unsprung weight
UTQGS
Wear bars

INTRODUCTION TO TIRES
The friction (traction) between the tire and the road

determines the handling characteristics of any
vehicle.
The compounding, construction, and condition of

tires are some of the most important aspects of the
steering, suspension, alignment, and braking
systems of any vehicle.
Tires are mounted on wheels that are bolted to the

vehicle to provide the following:
Shock absorber action when driving over rough

surfaces
Friction (traction) between the wheels and the road


PARTS OF A TIRE
TREAD
Tread refers to the part of the tire that contacts the

ground.
Tread rubber is chemically different from other

rubber parts of a tire, and is compounded for a
combination of traction and tire wear.
Tread depth is usually 11/32 in. deep on new tires
(this could vary, depending on manufacturer, from
9/32 to 15/32 in.).


PARTS OF A TIRE
TREAD
FIGURE 211 (a) A typical tire tread depth gauge. The center movable plunger is pushed
down into the groove of the tire. (b) The tread depth is read at the top edge of the sleeve. In
this example, the tread depth is 6/32 in.

PARTS OF A TIRE
TREAD
Wear indicators are also

called wear bars.
When tread depth is down
to the legal limit of 2/32 in.,
bald strips appear across
the tread.
FIGURE 212 Wear indicators (wear bars) are

strips of bald tread that show when the tread
depth is down to 2/32 in., the legal limit in many
states.

PARTS OF A TIRE
TREAD
Grooves are large, deep

recesses molded in the
tread and separating the
tread blocks.
These grooves are called
circumferential grooves or
kerfs.
Grooves running sideways
across the tread of a tire
are called lateral grooves.
FIGURE 213 The tire tread runs around the
circumference of the tire, and its pattern helps
maintain traction. The ribs provide grip, while the
grooves direct any water on the road away from the
surface. The sipes help the tire grip the road.


PARTS OF A TIRE
TREAD
Grooves in both directions

are necessary for wet
traction.
The trapped water can
actually cause the tires to
ride up on a layer of water
and lose contact with the
ground, as shown in
This is called
hydroplaning.

FIGURE 214 Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as

low as 30 mph (48 km/h). If the water is deep
enough and the tire tread cannot evacuate water
through its grooves fast enough, the tire can be lifted
off the road surface by a layer of water. Hydroplaning
occurs at lower speeds as the tire becomes worn.

PARTS OF A TIRE
SIDEWALL
The sidewall is that part of the tire between the

tread and the wheel.
The sidewall contains all the size and construction
details of the tire.
WHITE SIDEWALL/LETTERED

10

PARTS OF A TIRE
BEAD
The bead is the foundation of the tire and is

located where the tire grips the inside of the wheel
rim.
The bead is constructed of many turns of copper- or

bronze-coated steel wire.
The main body plies (layers of material) are
wrapped around the bead.
Most radial-ply tires and all truck tires wrap the bead
with additional material to add strength.

11

PARTS OF A TIRE
BODY PLY
A tire gets its strength from

the layers of material
wrapped around both
beads under the tread and
sidewall rubber.
This creates the main
framework, or carcass, of
the tire; these body plies
are often called carcass
plies.
FIGURE 215 Typical construction of a radial tire.
Some tires have only one body ply, and some tires
use more than two belt plies.

12

PARTS OF A TIRE
BELT
A tire belt is two or more layers of material applied

over the body plies and under the tread area only,
to stabilize the tread and increase tread life and
handling.
Belt material can consist of the following:
a. Steel mesh
b. Nylon
c. Rayon
d. Fiberglass
e. Aramid
All radial tires are belted.

13

PARTS OF A TIRE
INNER LINER
The inner liner is the soft rubber lining (usually a

butyl rubber compound) on the inside of the tire
that protects the body plies and helps provide for
self-sealing of small punctures.

14

PARTS OF A TIRE
MAJOR SPLICE
When the tire is assembled by a craftsperson on a

tire-building machine, the body plies, belts, and
tread rubber are spliced together.
The fabric is overlapped approximately five
threads.
The point where the majority of these overlaps
occur is called the major splice, which represents
the stiffest part of the tire.

15

PARTS OF A TIRE
MAJOR SPLICE
FIGURE 216 The major splice of a tire can often be seen and felt
on the inside of the tire. The person who assembles (builds) the tire
usually places a sticker near the major splice as a means of
identification for quality control.
16

TIRE MOLDING
After the tire has been

assembled by the tire
builder, it is called a green
tire.
FIGURE 217 Tire construction is

performed by assembling the many parts of
a tire together on a tire-building machine.

17

TIRE MOLDING
FIGURE 218 After the entire tire has

been assembled into a completed green
tire, it is placed into a tiremolding machine
where the tire is molded into shape and
the rubber is changed chemically by the
heat. This nonreversible chemical reaction
is called vulcanization.

18

METRIC DESIGNATION
European and Japanese tires use metric designations. For

example, 185SR x 14 denotes the following:

19

Why Do I Get Shocked by Static Electricity When I

Drive a Certain Vehicle?
Static electricity builds up in insulators due to

friction of the tires with the road. Newer tires
use silica and contain less carbon black in the
rubber, which makes the tires electrically
conductive. Because the tires cannot conduct
the static electricity to the ground, static
electricity builds up inside the vehicle and is
discharged through the body of the driver
and/or passenger whenever the metal door
handle is touched.

20

METRIC DESIGNATION
AMERICAN METRIC TIRE SIZE DESIGNATIONS
After 1980, American tires were also designated using the

metric system. For example, P205/75R x 14 denotes the
following:

21

How Much Does Tire Pressure Change

with a Change in Temperature?
As the temperature of a tire increases, the

pressure inside the tire also increases. The
general amount of pressure gain (when
temperatures increase) or loss (when
temperatures decrease) is as follows:
10F increase causes 1 PSI increase

10F decrease causes 1 PSI decrease
For example, if a tire is correctly inflated to 35

PSI when cold and then driven on a highway,
the tire pressure may increase 5 PSI or more.

22

How Much Bigger Can I Go?
Many owners think they can improve their

vehicle by upgrading the tire size over the size
that comes from the factory to make their
vehicle look sportier and ride and handle
better. When changing tire size, there are
many factors to consider.

23

How Much Bigger Can I Go?
FIGURE 219 Notice that the overall outside diameter of the tire remains almost the same and
at the same time the aspect ratio is decreased and the rim diameter is increased.

24

SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Tires built after 1990 use a service description method of

sidewall information in accordance with ISO 4000
(International Standards Organization) that includes size,
load, and speed rating together in one easy-to-read format.

25

SERVICE DESCRIPTION
FIGURE 2110 Cross-sectional view of

a typical tire showing the terminology.

26

What Effect Does Tire Size Have on

Overall Gear Ratio?
Customers often ask what effect changing tire

size has on fuel economy and speedometer
readings. If larger (or smaller) tires are
installed on a vehicle, many other factors also
will change. These include the following:
Speedometer reading
Odometer reading
Fuel economy

27

HIGH-FLOTATION TIRE SIZES
High-flotation tires for light trucks are designed to

give improved off-road performance on sand, mud,
and soft soil and still provide acceptable hard-road
surface performance.
These tires are usually larger than conventional
tires and usually require a wider-than-normal
wheel width.
High-flotation tires have a size designation such as
33 x 12.50R x 15LT:

28

HIGH-FLOTATION TIRE SIZES

29

LOAD INDEX AND EQUIVALENT LOADS
The load index is an abbreviated method to

indicate the load-carrying capabilities of a tire.
The weights listed in the chart represent the weight
that each tire can safely support.
Multiply this amount by 4 to get the maximum that
the vehicle should weigh fully loaded with cargo
and passengers.

30

LOAD INDEX AND EQUIVALENT LOADS
FIGURE 2111 Typical sidewall markings for load index and

speed rating following the tire size.

31

SPEED RATINGS
Tires are rated according to

the maximum sustained
speed.
A vehicle should never be
driven faster than the
speed rating of the tires.

32

What Does the Little e Mean on the

Sidewall?
The letter e and number code combination

(positioned in a circle or rectangle) identify the
country originally granting approval, followed
by two digits indicating the Regulation Series
under which the tire was approved. Tires that
have also been tested and meet the pass-by
noise limits can have a second E.C.E.
branding followed by an -s (for sound).

33

What Does the Little e Mean on the

Sidewall?
FIGURE 2112 The E.C.E. symbol on a sidewall of a tire. Notice

the small -s at the end, indicating that the tire meets the pass-by
noise limits.
34

TIRE PRESSURE AND TRACTION
All tires should be inflated

to the specifications given
by the vehicle
manufacturer.
Most vehicles have
recommended tire inflation
figures written in the
owners manual or on a
placard or sticker on the
door post or glove
compartment.

FIGURE 2113 A typical door placard used on a

General Motors vehicle indicating the
recommended tire inflation. Note that the
information also includes the tire size and speed
rating of the tire as well as the recommended
wheel size.
35

TIRE CONICITY AND PLY STEER
Tire conicity can occur during the construction of

any radial or belted tire when the parts of the tire
are badly positioned, causing the tire to be smaller
in diameter on one side.
When this tire is installed on a vehicle, it can cause
the vehicle to pull to one side of the road due to
the cone shape of the tire.

36

FIGURE 2114 Conicity is a fault in the tire that can cause the
vehicle to pull to one side due to the cone effect (shape) of the
tire.
37

Ply steer is another term

that describes a slight
pulling force on a vehicle
due to tire construction.
Ply steer is due to the
angle of the cords in the
belt layers.
FIGURE 2115 Notice the angle of the belt material

in this worn tire. The angle of the belt fabric can
cause a ply steer or slight pulling force toward one
side of the vehicle.

38

VEHICLE HANDLING AND TIRE SLIP

ANGLE
The tire surface contact area or tire patch size is

about one-half the area of one page of this book.
All accelerating, braking, and cornering forces of a
vehicle are transferred to the pavement at just four
spots.
The combined area of these four spots is about
equal to the size of this opened book.

39

VEHICLE HANDLING AND TIRE SLIP

ANGLE
FIGURE 2116 Slip angle is the angle between the direction the tire tread is heading
and the direction it is pointed.

40

RIM WIDTH AND TIRE SIZE
As a general rule, for a given rim width it is best

not to change tire width more than 10 mm (either
wider or narrower).
For a given tire width, it is best not to vary rim
width more than 1/2 in. in either direction.

41

Is There a Rule-of-Thumb for Rim Size?
According to the Tire and Rim Association,

Inc., the answer is no. Each tire size has a
designated rim width on which it is designed
to be mounted so as to provide the best
performance and wear. The width of the
specified rim also varies with rim diameter. A
235/45 x 17 tire may require a 7.5-in. rim but a
235/45 x 19 tire may require an 8.0-in. rim. A
rule-of-thumb that has been used is to multiply
the width of the rim by 33.55 to determine the
approximate tire size for the rim.

42

UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING

SYSTEM
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and

the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) developed a system of tire grading, the
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS),
to help customers better judge the relative
performance of tires.
The three areas of tire performance are tread
wear, traction, and temperature resistance.

43


SYSTEM
FIGURE 2117 Typical Uniform Tire Quality Grading System

(UTQGS) ratings imprinted on the tire sidewall.

44


SYSTEM
TREAD WEAR
TRACTION
TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE

45

ALL-SEASON TIRE DESIGNATION
Most all-season tires are rated and labeled as M &

S, MS, or M S, and therefore must adhere to
general design features as specified by the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA).
Tires labeled M & S are constructed with an
aggressive tread design as well as tread
compounds and internal construction that are
designed for mud and snow.
The tread rubber used to make all-season tires is
also more flexible at low temperatures.

46

DOT TIRE CODE
All tires sold in the United States must be

approved by the U.S. Federal Department of
Transportation (DOT).
The DOT tire code requirements include
resistance to tire damage that could be caused by
curbs, chuckholes, and other common
occurrences for a tire used on public roads.

47

DOT TIRE CODE
FIGURE 2118 Typical DOT date code. This tire was built the sixth week of
2005.

48

Tire Date Code Information Saved Me

Money!
This author was looking at a three-year-old vehicle

when I noticed that the right rear tire had a build date
code newer than the vehicle. I asked the owner, How
badly was this vehicle hit? The owner stumbled and
stuttered a little, then said, How did you know that an
accident occurred? I told the owner that the right rear
tire, while the exact same tire as the others, had a
date code indicating that it was only one year old,
whereas the original tires were the same age as the
vehicle. The last three numbers of the DOT code on
the sidewall indicate the week of manufacture (the
first two numbers of the three-digit date code)
followed by the last number of the year.

49

Tire Date Code Information Saved Me

Money!
The owner immediately admitted that the vehicle slid

on ice and hit a curb, damaging the right rear tire and
wheel. Both the tire and wheel were replaced and the
alignment checked. The owner then dropped the price
of the vehicle $500! Knowing the date code helps
assure that fresh tires are purchased and can also
help the technician determine if the tires have been
replaced. For example, if new tires are found on a
vehicle with 20,000 miles, then the technician should
check to see if the vehicle may have been involved in
an accident or may have more miles than indicated on
the odometer.

50

SPARE TIRES
Most vehicles today come equipped with spacesaver spare tires that are smaller than the wheels
and tires that are on the vehicle.
The reason for the small size is to reduce the size
and weight of the entire vehicle and to increase
fuel economy by having the entire vehicle weigh
less by not carrying a heavy spare tire and wheel
around.

51

RUN-FLAT TIRES
Run-flat tires (abbreviated RFT) are designed to

operate without any air for a limited distance
(usually 50 miles at 55 mph).
This feature allows vehicle manufacturers to build

vehicles without the extra room and weight of a
spare tire and jack assembly.
A typical run-flat tire (also called extended mobility

tire [EMT] or zero pressure [ZP] tire) requires the
use of an air pressure sensor/transmitter and a
dash-mounted receiver to warn the driver that a
tire has lost pressure.

52

RUN-FLAT TIRES
FIGURE 2119 Cutaway of a run-flat tire showing the reinforced sidewalls

and the required pressure sensor.
53

RUN-FLAT TIRES
FIGURE 2120 A conventional tire on the left and a run-flat tire on the right,
showing what happens when there is no air in the tire.
54

RUN-FLAT TIRES
PAX RUN-FLAT TIRES
Michelin developed a run-flat tire that has three

unique components:
A special wheel that has two bead seats that are of

different diameters. The outside bead seat is 10 mm
smaller in diameter than the inside bead seat. This
means that a conventional tire cannot be installed
on a PAX-style wheel.
A urethane support ring that is designed to support
the weight of the vehicle in the event of a flat tire.
A special tire that is designed to operate without air.

55

RUN-FLAT TIRES
PAX RUN-FLAT TIRES
FIGURE 2121 The PAX run-flat tire system is composed of three

unique componentsa special asymmetrical wheel, a urethane
support ring, and special tire.
56

PAX Replacement Tip
In most cases, the fastest and easiest

approach to follow if a PAX tire requires
replacement is to purchase a replacement
tire/wheel assembly. While more expensive
than replacing just the tire, this approach is
often used to help the vehicle owner get back
on the road faster without any concerns as to
whether the replacement tire was properly
installed.

57

RUN-FLAT TIRES
SERVICING A PAX WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY
If a flat tire occurs or when a PAX tire becomes

worn and requires replacement, special care
should be taken to properly remove the tire from
the wheel.
Because the urethane support ring prevents the
tire bead from entering the dropped center section
of the wheel, the outside bead should be broken
from the wheel, and then the support ring removed
before the tire can be removed from the wheel.

58

GENERAL MOTORS TPC RATING
All General Motors original equipment (OE) tires

have a rating that identifies the size as well as the
tread design, wear, traction, and heat resistance
factors.
All of these factors are combined in a set of

numbers and letters that is imprinted in the tire
mold.
This is referred to as the Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) rating of the tire.
If a customer wants to have the same tire

performance in a replacement tire, then replace
the tire with any brand of tire that has the same
TPC identification.

59

GENERAL MOTORS TPC RATING
FIGURE 2122 The Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) specification number is

imprinted on the sidewall of all tires used on General Motors vehicles from
the factory.

60

What Is a Low-Rolling-Resistance Tire?
Low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tires reduce

rolling resistance, which is the power-robbing
friction between the tire and crown. The Emetric tire, designated for use on electric or
hybrid vehicles, operates at higher inflation
pressures, reduced load percentages, and
lower rolling resistance. These tires were first
used on the GM EV1 electric vehicle.

61

WHEELS
Todays wheels are constructed of steel or

aluminum alloy.
The center section of the wheel that attaches to
the hub is called the center section or spider
because early wheels used wooden spokes that
resembled a spiders web. The rubber tire attaches
to the rim of the wheel.
The rim has two bead flanges where the bead of
the tire is held against the wheel when the tire is
inflated.

62

WHEELS
FIGURE 2123 The size of the wheel is usually cast or stamped

into the wheel. This wheel is 7 inches wide. The letter J refers to
the contour of the bead seat area of the wheel.
63

WHEELS
FIGURE 2124 The wheel rim well provides a space for the tire to fit
during mounting; the bead seat provides a tire-towheel sealing
surface; the flange holds the beads in place.
64

WHEELS
WHEEL OFFSET
POSITIVE OFFSET
NEGATIVE OFFSET
BACK SPACING
DETERMINING BOLT CIRCLE
STEEL WHEELS
ALUMINUM WHEELS

65

WHEELS
FIGURE 2125 A cross section

of a wheel showing part
designations.

66

WHEELS
FIGURE 2126 Offset is the distance between the centerline

of the wheel and the wheel mounting surface.
67

WHEELS
FIGURE 2127 Back spacing (rear

spacing) is the distance from the
mounting pad to the edge of the rim.
Most custom wheels use this
measurement method to indicate
the location of the mounting pad in
relation to the rim.

68

WHEELS
FIGURE 2128 Bolt circle is the

diameter of a circle that can be drawn
through the center of each lug hole or
stud. The bolt circle is sometimes
referred to as PCD for pitch circle
diameter.

69

WHEELS
FIGURE 2129 Measuring the bolt circle on a five lug wheel is difficult,
but a quick and easy way includes measuring as shown to determine the
approximate bolt circle of a five-lug wheel.
70

WHEELS
FIGURE 2130 Measure center-to-center distance and

compare the distance to the figures in the chart in the text to determine the
diameter for a five-lug bolt circle.

71

What Does This Mark in a Wheel Mean?
The symbol JWL, for the Japan Wheel Light

Metal Standard Mark, means that the wheel
meets the technical standards for passengercar light-alloy disk wheels.
The manufacturer is responsible for
conducting the inspections set forth in the
technical standard, and the JWL mark is
displayed on those products that pass the
inspection.

72

What Does This Mark in a Wheel Mean?
FIGURE 2131 A typical JWL symbol for the Japan Wheel

Light Metal standard mark.

73

TIRE VALVES
All tires use a tire valve, called a Schrader valve,

to hold air in the tire.
Schrader valves are used not only as valves in tires

but on fuel-injection systems, air-conditioning
systems, and air shock (ride control) systems.
Most tire experts agree that the valve stem (which

includes the Schrader valve) should be replaced
whenever tires are replacedtires can last four or
more years, and in that time the valve stem can
become brittle and crack.

74

TIRE VALVES
FIGURE 2132 (a) A rubber snap-in

style tire valve assembly. (b) A metal
clamp-type tire valve assembly used on
most high-pressure (over 60 PSI) tire
applications such as is found on many
trucks, RVs, and trailers. The internal
Schrader valve threads into the valve
itself and can be replaced individually,
but most experts recommend replacing
the entire valve assembly every time the
tires are replaced to help prevent air
loss.

75

UNSPRUNG WEIGHT
The wheel and tire are unsprung weight because

they are not supported by the vehicles springs.
If heavy wheels or tires are used, every time the
vehicle hits a bump, the wheel is forced upward.
The heavy mass of the wheel and tire would
transmit this force through the spring of the vehicle
and eventually to the driver and passengers.
Obviously, a much lighter wheel and tire assembly
reacts faster to bumps and dips in the road
surface.
The end result is a smoother-riding vehicle with
greater control.

76

LUG NUTS
Lug nuts are used to hold

a wheel to the brake disc,
brake drum, or wheel
bearing assembly.
Typical lug nuts are
tapered so that the wheel
stud will center the wheel
onto the vehicle.
Many alloy wheels use a
shank-nut-type lug nut that
has straight sides without a
taper.

FIGURE 2133 Various styles of lug nuts.
77

LUG NUTS
SIZE
Lug nuts are sized to the thread size of the stud

onto which they screw.
The diameter and the number of threads per inch
are commonly stated.
Since some vehicles use left-hand threads, RH
and LH are commonly stated, indicating righthand and left-hand threads.
A typical size is 7/16-20RH, where the 7/16
indicates the diameter of the wheel stud and 20
indicates that there are 20 threads per inch.

78

LUG NUTS
LUG STUDS
Lug studs are usually installed in hubs or drums

using a press fit.
Serrations on the shoulder of the stud provide
support.
Most studs are replaceable and should be
replaced if the treads are damaged.

79

SUMMARY
1.
2.
3.
New tires have between 9/32 in. and 15/32 in. tread depth.
Wear bars (indicators) show up as a bald strip across the
tread of the tire when the tread depth gets down to 2/32 in.
All tires are assembled by hand from many different
materials and chemical compounds. After a green tire is
assembled, it is placed into a mold under heat and
pressure for about 30 minutes. Tread design and the tire
shape are determined by the mold design.
A 205/75R x 14 92S tire is 205 mm wide at its widest
section and is 75% as high as it is wide. The R stands for
radial-type construction. The tire is designed for a 14-in.diameter rim. The number 92 is the load index of the tire
(the higher the number, the more weight the tire can safely
support). The S is the speed rating of the tire (S x 112 mph
maximum sustained).

80

SUMMARY
4.
5.
6.
7.
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading System is a

rating for tread wear (100, 150, etc.), traction (A,
B, C), and temperature resistance (A, B, C).
For best overall handling and satisfaction, always
select the same size and type of tire that came on
the vehicle when new.
Replacement wheels should have the same offset
as the factory wheels to prevent abnormal tire
wear and/or handling problems.
All wheels must be secured with the proper size
and style of lug nuts. If a wheel stud is broken, it
should be replaced immediately to avoid possible
wheel damage or loss of vehicle control.

81

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
List the various parts of a tire and explain how a

tire is constructed.
What is the aspect ratio?
List the factors that should be considered when
purchasing tires.
Explain the three major areas of the Uniform Tire
Quality Grading System.
How is the proper tire inflation pressure
determined?

82

CHAPTER QUIZ
1. The part of the tire that is under just the tread of a
radial tire is called the ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Bead
Body (carcass) ply
Belt
Inner liner

83

CHAPTER QUIZ
2. The aspect ratio of a tire means ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Its width to diameter of a wheel ratio

The ratio of height to width
The ratio of width to height
The ratio of rolling resistance

84

CHAPTER QUIZ
3. A tire is labeled 215/60R15 x 92T; the T indicates
________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Its speed rating

Its tread wear rating
Its load rating
Its temperature resistance rating

85

CHAPTER QUIZ
4. The 92 in the tire designation in question 3 refers
to the tires ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Speed rating
Tread wear rating
Load rating
Temperature resistance rating

86

CHAPTER QUIZ
5. Radial tires can cause a vehicle to pull to one
side while driving. This is called radial tire pull
and is often due to ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The angle of the body (carcass) plies

Tire conicity
Tread design
Bead design

87

CHAPTER QUIZ
6. Tire inflation is very important to the safe and
economical operation of any vehicle. Technician
A says that the pressure should never exceed the
maximum pressure imprinted on the sidewall of
the tire. Technician B says to inflate the tires to
the pressures recommended on the tire
information decal or placard on the drivers door.
Which technician is correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Technician A only
Technician B only
Both Technicians A and B
Neither Technician A nor B

88

CHAPTER QUIZ
7. When purchasing replacement tires, do not
change tire width from the stock size by more
than ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
10 mm
15 mm
20 mm
25 mm

89

CHAPTER QUIZ
8. What do the letters JJ mean in a wheel
designation size labeled 14 x 7JJ?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The offset of the rim

The bolt circle code
The back spacing of the rim
The shape of the flange area

90

CHAPTER QUIZ
9. Technician A says that a PAX run-flat tire uses a
special wheel. Technician B says that a standard
tire can be used to replace a PAX run-flat tire.
Which technician is correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Technician A only
Technician B only
Both Technicians A and B
Neither Technician A nor B

91

CHAPTER QUIZ
10. Wheel back spacing is also called ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Rear spacing
Positive offset
Negative offset
Offset

92


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Tires and Wheels

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CHAPTER 21

Tires and Wheels

Prepare for ASE Suspension and Steering (A4)

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

Copyright 2010, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1995 Pearson Education, Inc.,

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

Copyright 2010, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1995 Pearson Education, Inc.,

The friction (traction) between the tire and the road

The compounding, construction, and condition of

Tires are mounted on wheels that are bolted to the

Shock absorber action when driving over rough

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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Tread refers to the part of the tire that contacts the

Tread rubber is chemically different from other

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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Copyright 2010, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1995 Pearson Education, Inc.,

Wear indicators are also

FIGURE 212 Wear indicators (wear bars) are

Copyright 2010, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1995 Pearson Education, Inc.,

Grooves are large, deep

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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Grooves in both directions

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FIGURE 214 Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as

Copyright 2010, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1995 Pearson Education, Inc.,

The sidewall is that part of the tire between the

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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The bead is the foundation of the tire and is

The bead is constructed of many turns of copper- or

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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A tire gets its strength from

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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A tire belt is two or more layers of material applied

Belt material can consist of the following:

All radial tires are belted.

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The inner liner is the soft rubber lining (usually a

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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When the tire is assembled by a craftsperson on a

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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Copyright 2010, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1995 Pearson Education, Inc.,

After the tire has been

FIGURE 217 Tire construction is

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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FIGURE 218 After the entire tire has

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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European and Japanese tires use metric designations. For

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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Why Do I Get Shocked by Static Electricity When I

Static electricity builds up in insulators due to

Automotive Chassis Systems, 5/e

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