Unit-3

Wheels and Tires

Wheels
Functions of wheel
To take the load of the vehicle and to give strong foundation to the tire. The wheel and tire take
the vehicle load together.
To transmit the torque generated by the engine to the road.
To convert rotary motion of axle into longitudinal motion of vehicle.
To transmit the loads generated from tire contact area to the suspension and finally to the car
body (or sprung mass).

Desirable characteristics of wheel

It should be strong and robust to take all the loads.

It should be statically and dynamically balanced.
It should be light in order to reduce the unsprung weight.
The material of wheel should be resistant to attacks from atmospheric elements such as
moisture, air, water and various chemical elements.
It should not deteriorate with age.

Parts of wheel assembly

1. Wheel Hub
2. Wheel Disc (disc and rim)
3. Tire and tube(if present)
Wheel hub: It is mounted on axle.
Wheel disc: Wheel disc is mounted on wheel hub.
Tire: Sits on the wheel rim.

Types of wheels in automobiles

Generally, three types of wheels are used in road vehicles. These are:
1. Disc wheel
2. Wire wheel
3. Alloy wheel
Disc wheel is the most common type of wheel used by the road vehicles in contemporary period. This
is because it is easy and cheap to manufacture, robust and easy to maintain. They require almost
negligible maintenance.
The wire wheel was the first wheel to be introduced in the history of automobiles.
The alloy wheel is the newest construction in wheels. They posses several advantages over disc and
wire wheels which will be discussed later in this chapter.

Types of wheels contd.

1.Disc Wheels
The disc wheel is the most common wheel being used in the road vehicles. A disc wheel can be said
to composed of two elements, the wheel rim (made of steel) and a pressed steel disc. The wheel
rim and the wheel disc could be attached in the following ways:

a. The rim could be an integral part of disc.

b. The rim could be welded or riveted to the disc.
c. It could be attached in a manner so that it could
be removed later.
The wheel rim receives the tire.

Wheel axle assembly

Mounting studs on wheel hub

The wheel is bolted on

these mounting studs.

Wheel hub with disc brake

Pitch circle on a wheel

Picture courtesy: www.upgrademotoring.com

Picture courtesy: auto.howstuffworks.com

The circle which passes through the mounting

holes of wheel is known as pitch circle.

Disc wheel details

Slots on wheel

Mounting holes

Wheel disc and rim

The mounting holes are used to fix the wheel to the studs on the wheel hub.
The slots on the wheel provide for airflow to go inside the wheel. The slots have been rounded to
avoid stress concentrations (otherwise they would make the wheel weak) on the surface of disc
while it is in operation.

Dimensioning and nomenclature of wheels

W
= width of rim (inches or mm)
D
= Diameter of wheel disc (in or mm)
C
= offset (in or mm)
The wheel is identified by a number which goes in the following sequence
Width

letter identifying the rim profile

diameter

The rim profile is identified by using letters such as J,K,JJ,JK or B.

C or wheel offset is the distance from the mounting surface to the wheel center line.

Disc wheel (dimensioning and classification)

well

Wheel dimensioning

Picture courtesy: Pramod Khudia

The wheels are classified with respect to their attachment face of disc.

Disc wheel dimensioning and classification (contd.)

On the basis of the location of the attachment face of the disc on wheel, the wheel can be classified as:
Inset wheel
Outset wheel
Zeroset wheel

Inset wheel: When the centerline of the wheel falls

inside/inboard the attachment face of Disc, the disc
wheel is known as inset wheel.
Outset wheel: When the centerline of the wheel falls
outside/outboard the attachment face of Disc, the
disc wheel is known as outset wheel.
Zeroset wheel: When the centerline of the wheel falls
on the line representing the attachment face of Disc,
the disc wheel is known as outset wheel.
Inset is the distance from the attachment face of the
disc to the center line of the rim

Disc wheel dimensioning and classification (contd.)

A wheel whose disc can be mounted on either face to provide inset or
outset is known as a reversible wheel.

Divided wheel: A wheel which is constructed in two parts, and is then

fastened together to form a single rim is known as divided wheel.

2. Wire wheel
It is the earliest type of wheel used in the automotive industry.
The hub in a wire wheel is attached to the rim through a number of
spokes.
The spoke is hooked to the hub.
The outer end of the spoke is threaded and fitted to the rim. The
outer end is screwed to the rim with the help of a tubular nut, called
nipple.
If the spoke is in incorrect tension (loose or tight) the shape of the
wheel might get distorted.
The spokes serve to carry the weight of the vehicle.
They also transmit the driving and braking forces.
They also withstand the side forces during cornering.
The wire wheel is made to withstand the above-mentioned forces
by arranging its spokes in a complicated crisscross fashion.
The spokes take loads in tension only. Since they are in the form of
long thin wires they cannot withstand compressive and bending
stresses.

Wire wheel
Picture courtesy: Pramod Khudia

Wire wheel construction (contd.)

The vehicle load at any instant is taken by spokes located above
the hub at that instant. They are in tension at that instant.
The initial tension in the spokes can be adjusted by means of
the screwing mechanism which screws the spokes to the rim.
The hub is internally splined and it fits on the splines provided
on the axle shaft. It is screwed on the axle shaft by means of a
wing nut.

Advantages

Disadvantages

High strength
Lighter in weight
Allows for better cooling of wheel and
brake assemblies

Intricate in design and difficult to manufacture

Expensive
Need a lot of care and maintenance
No scope for fitting tubeless tires

3. Alloy wheels
Alloy wheels are manufacture from metal alloys, mainly from magnesium and aluminum alloys.
They can be cast or forged.
Cast wheels are used for light and medium weight vehicles. Forged wheels are used for heavy
vehicles.
An alloy wheel weighs about half as steel wheel for the same strength.
Alloy wheels are better conductors of heat and therefore dissipate more heat than steel wheels. This
keeps the brake assembly cooler.
Alloy wheels are machined after casting and forging. This makes them shinny in appearance.
Aluminum alloy wheels are used in cars and commercial vehicles. Magnesium wheels are used in high
performance cars.
With alloy wheels wider rims are used which can improve cornering performance.
Alloy wheels are expensive than disc wheels.

Tires
The tire-tube assembly is mounted or seated on the rim. The air inside the tire tube carries the load of
entire vehicle. Together the tire and tube (filled with air) flex with various loads and road condition.

Functions of a tire

To transmit various forces such traction and braking from vehicle to road.
To support the vehicle load.
To provide cushioning effect and isolate vehicle from irregularities of roads.
To provide vehicle with cornering force in turns.

Desirable characteristics in a tire

The tire must have proper tread design to prevent it from skidding when friction between road
and itself drops.
The tire must undergo uniform wear.
The tire (material of tire) must be strong enough to carry the loads of the vehicle. the tire is
subjected to alternating stresses during each revolution of the wheel.

 It must provide cushioning effect particularly against high frequency low amplitude road
irregularities.
Power is consumed when the tire overcomes the friction between road and itself. This power
consumption should be as low as possible. Power loss also occurs due to hysteresis which is due
flexing and releasing of every portion of tire tread during each revolution. The power consumed is a
load on engine.
Tire noise should be minimum.

Types of tires
1. Basic construction, 2. Use, 3. Ability to run flat

According to basic construction, tire can be classified as

1. Tubed tires
2. Tubeless tires
1. Tubed tire

A conventional tubed tire consist of the following parts:

Tread
Carcass
Sidewall
Beads

Tubed tire (contd.)

a. Carcass: The carcass is the part of the tire which takes various loads that are exerted on tire. It
consist of a number of plies wound in a particular fashion. These plies are made up of Rayon,
nylon (cords of nylon and rayon) or any other suitable material. Each cord in each ply is covered
with resilient rubber compounds and all plies are insulated against each other
b. Beads: Beads are rings of bundles of bronze coated high tension steel wire strands and
insulated with rubber. The plies attach to two rings both of which are present on either side of the
rim (one at each end where the tire is to be mounted). The beads seat the tire on the wheel rim,
provide it with a snug fit against the wheel rim thus anchoring the tire to the rim. Beads are also
called as foundation of the tire.

Tubed tire (contd.)

c. Tread: The tread is the pattern made on the surface of the tire which comes in contact with the
road surface during rolling of the wheel. It transmits longitudinal forces and braking forces between
tire and ground. The tire tread is molded into groove, blocks and ribs.
Blocks make most of the tire tread surface. They provide traction between road and wheel.
Ribs are straight line blocks that cover the tire surface circumferentially. They form a
circumferential band around the tire surface. They are molded on outer ribs of the tire.
Together blocks and ribs provide traction
edges to the tire which are required for
gripping the road surface.
Tread of a tire performs the function of
transmitting various forces from tire to
ground. It is made from synthetic rubber.

Basic tubed tire construction

Picture courtesy: Pramod Khudia

The grooves serve as a

passage for any foreign
material to get out of the tire
tread. For example they help
remove water, dirt etc.

Sipes are small grooves that

are molded into ribs of tire
tread. They increase the
traction of tire by increasing
the traction edges.

Tubed tire (contd.)

The sipes run very deep. They penetrate almost the entire depth of the tire tread.
They open up when the portion of tire containing them enters the contact patch (and hence flexes). This
increases the traction ability and pulls any water or mud in the region of contact patch.
They close down when they move up or away from the contact patch, and thus also drive away that water or
dirt. They thus also help to keep the contact patch in a drier condition than it could have in without the use of
sipes.
d. Sidewall: the sidewall is the outer
rubber covering between the bead and
the tread. It is designed to flex and
bend without cracking when subjected
to deflection. It has high fatigue
strength.
Void ratio: the ratio of amount of
open space (or area) to the total
space (or area) on the tire tread.
Basic tubed tire construction
Picture courtesy: Pramod Khudia

Ply rating: It indicated tire

strength and its load carrying
capacity.

Tubeless tires
These are similar to tube tires in construction. There is no separate tube inside the tire. The air is filled
in the tire itself. The air is filled through a non-return valve.
The difference between a tube tire and a tubeless tire is that the tubeless tire has a special air retaining
liner made up of halogenated butyl rubber.
Another difference is that in a tubeless tire the bead seats more firmly on the rim. This is because the
bead not only maintains the position of tire on the rim, but also helps in maintaining the air pressure
within the tire.
Advantages of tubeless tires over tube tires

Better heat dissipation to the atmosphere. Heat from compressed air inside tire does not have to
pass through tire tube (which is not a good conductor of heat).
Since no tube is present problems related to it are also absent.
Better fuel efficiency due to slightly less weight. In comparison to tube tires a tubeless tires
contribute less to unsprung weight.
Leakage and loss of air is slower in a tubeless tire.

Advantages of tubeless tires (contd.)

Provides better safety in case of sudden air leakage. A tubeless tire can retain air for long periods
even when it gets punctured by a sharp object. This is not the case with tube tire.
In case of a puncture tubeless tire is more easy to repair than a conventional tube tire.
The tubeless tire fits more tightly on the rim than tube tires. This can improve cornering
performance or cornering power.
2. Use

On the basis of use

All season tires

Summer tires

Hard rubber
longer life,
compromise
grip, noise
cornering
abilities.

Softer rubber as
compared to that
in all season tires.
Tread is designed
more for grip
rather
than
removing water.

for
but
on
and

Wet weather tires

Increased density
of sipes, softer
rubber, shorter
life-span.

Snow/ice tires
Larger tread pattern,
noisier, shorter life
span

All terrain types

Larger in size,
bigger tread
block patterns
and stiffer
sidewalls, noisier.

Type of Carcass
Carcass of tire is of three types

Cross Ply
Ply cords are woven at an angle of 30 deg to 40 deg with respect to the tire axis. Plies crisscross and overlap with each
other. The tire thus is strong in all directions. However, heat is generated because plies tend to move against each other,
especially at high speed. The tread tends to close as it meets the road.

Radial ply tires or radial tires

In this type of carcass, plies run parallel to each other and vertical to the bead. On plies, a number of breaker
str

Advantages of radial tire

Radial tires can stop at shorter distance because they have stiffer tread as compared to the tread in
bias ply tires.
Radial tire is more resistant to puncture than a bias ply tire. This is due to presence of stabilizer belts
that make the tread more stiff.
The radial tire has better contact patch as compared to bias ply tire. It has a more continuos flat contact
patch area. This improves acceleration and braking.
Radial tires help in reducing fuel consumption. This is because sidewall is less rigid in radial tire as
compared to bias ply tire. This reduces rolling resistance (also lower internal friction while rolling).
The radial tire has a longer tread life. This is because there is less heat generated in the radial tire as
compared to cross ply and belted bias ply tire; and also because the tread does not squirm as it meets
the road.
For a similar tread design, water removal capabilities and overall wet road maneuvering ability is
greater for a radial tire than for a bias ply tire. The bias ply tire has an inherent tendency to squirm
because of higher rigidity of sidewall.
For the same degree of slip angle the radial tire generates higher value of cornering force and self
righting torque.

Disadvantages of radial tire

It is little expensive than the bias ply tire.
The steering feels heavy at low speeds.
Poor ride comfort at low speeds because of steel stabilizer belts present.
Waddle motion
A side to side motion is produced in radial tires at low speeds. This is normal with radial ply tires.
Waddle motion can also result from displacement of stabilizer belts from their original position.

Tire materials
Carcass material
Rayon
Nylon: more stronger, more elastic and cooler running than rayon
But, nylon has a tendency for cold flatting. nylon cords tend to retain their shape while they are cold, and start to show
flexibility when they are heated a little bit.
Terylene: tough, durable, does not absorb any moisture, does have a tendency for cold flatting, but difficult to bond with
Rubber.

For stabilizer belts, materials such as rayon, terylene, galss fibre or steel.
Steel is quite common in radial ply tires.

References
Automobile engineering by Kripal Singh
Automotive mechanics by Crouse and Anglin
Pramod Khudia you tube videos