Classic Auto Body Shop’s Guide to Tires: Anatomy of a Tire, Tire Wear and Maintenance, and Choosing the Right Tire for Your Car

The experts at Classic Body Shop want to share their wealth of knowledge with you all on one of the most vital parts of your vehicle when it comes to safety and stability: The tires!  While it may seem like a “no-brainer” that tires are in need of maintenance, we’re going to share a little more detail on why we should all pay a little closer attention to the health of our tires beyond the obvious.  Let’s take a look at how a tire is constructed, what the elements do, and why keeping an eye on these things is tantamount to safe driving.

The tire has four very important functions for your vehicle: supporting the weight, changing and maintaining the direction of your driving, providing traction and braking, and absorbing road shocks.  Each element that composes the tire’s structure and frame is imperative to safe driving and functioning on the roadway.

Carcass: This is the load-bearing framework which forms the body of the tire, made of thin textile fibers bonded into rubber.  It contains the inflation pressure and aids in supporting the load and absorbing impact, and helps it resist pressure.

Tread: The tread,  sometimes also known as a “track”, is the rubber on the circumference of a tire that contacts the road surface.  Modern tires have an average tread depth of 8 to 9 millimeters (10/32nds to 11/32nds of an inch).  Good read depth should be 6/32nds of an inch or deeperWhen a tire has a tread depth below 1.6 millimeters it loses its grip, and impairs your vehicle control, stability, and braking performance.

Shoulder: The shoulder on each tread is designed to protect the belt and carcass of the tire, and is where the tread and sidewall of the tire meet..

Belt: The Belt is a reinforcement layer extending to the outer circumference of the carcass under the tread, and improves the stiffness of the tread area.  It is made of rubber-coated layers of steel, fiberglass, rayon and other materials which provide puncture resistance, and also help the treads maintain contact with the road surface.

Bead: The bead area supports the extremities of the carcass on each side of the tire, and is the edge of the tire that sits on the wheel itself.

Bead Filler:  This reinforcement rubber compound has a triangular cross-section, and is used to increase the stiffness of the bead and extends up into the sidewall area. It helps create a sea which holds air inside the tire.

Bead Wire: A ring-shaped reinforcement material that is made by bundling together several high-carbon steel wires coated with red copper or bronze.  It has good flexibility and high strength, which is why it provides the framework for the tire structure.

Inner Liner: The inner liner is a thin, air-tight layer of special rubber that keeps the air inside your tire and maintains the tire pressure, promoting good fuel economy.

Side Wall: The sidewall is the smooth, vertical area on the tire between the tread and the bead, and provides lateral stability and support. It can be seen when you look at the tire from the side after its mounted on the vehicle.

Rim: The tire wraps around the rim, which is the skeletal structure of the wheel assembly.  The rim provides structure and form, allowing the tire to wrap around it and fill with air.

Now that you’re an expert on the anatomy of a tire, let’s go through some of the things you should know about maintaining, repairing, and replacing a tire.

• You should check your tire pressure monthly, or whenever the temperature changes with a difference of 10º  higher or lower, and inflate to the specifications listed in your manual or on the inside of the door panel.
• Check your tire’s tread depth each time you check the pressure, and replace the tire if it is worn down to 2/32nds to 4/32nds of an inch.  You can insert a penny into the tread groove with President Lincon’s head upside down.  If you are able to se the top of Lincoln’s head, you need to replace the tires.  Alternatively, if your tire treads are extremely low, you may notice your tire’s “treadwear indicators, which are raised sections between the tire’s treads; if you can see these replace them immediately.
• Examine the treads and sidewalls for any cuts, cracks, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps, or cracks.  Take a good look to make sure there are no nails, screws, or other foreign objects lodged between them.  If you spot any damage or wear-and-tear, you should bring your car in for a patch by a trusted service employee or a full replacement.
• Make sure to have your tires rotated with each routine service appointment such as an oil change or alignment.  This will ensure that your tires wear evenly and safely, reducing the chance of flats due to overuse or extreme wear.
• Check with your mechanic or trusted tire installation technician to find the best tires that match your vehicle’s recommended size/type, your driving style and average mileage, local/seasonal weather hazards, and your budget.
• Most tires typically last around 50,000 miles, which is about 3 to 5 years average for the typical driver, but this does vary depending on your driving habits, where you live, and where you drive most. Drivers who frequently use unpaved roadways, go off-roading, and those who are “lead-foot drivers” may need to replace them more frequently than average.  Check with your trusted mechanic or local tire specialist to assess your needs.

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