Engineering, physics, and chemistry come together to create the modern tire. Even though the designs vary from manufacturer and product, most tires contain over 100 different components.
For example, the tires on your vehicle right now may contain a combination of polyester, natural rubber, petroleum, synthetic rubber, carbon black, nylon, polyester, steel, and more. The exact ingredients and processes used by tire manufacturers give tires unique performance characteristics.
When it comes to tires, the process used to make them is actually quite interesting. So, if you have ever wondered, “how are rubber tires made,” you are in the right place. Keep reading to find out the process used.
The Raw Materials
When manufacturing tires, rubber is the primary raw material used. As mentioned above, both synthetic and natural rubber are used.
Natural rubber comes from the bark of the rubber tree. Once harvested, liquid latex is mixed with acid that causes this rubber to solidify.
Presses are used to squeeze out all additional water and form the rubber sheets dried in smokehouses. Large bales are then pressed together, and then these are shipped to tire factories worldwide.
Another main ingredient is carbon black. This is a soft, fine powder created by burning natural gas and crude oil with limited oxygen. A large amount of this material is needed for manufacturing tires.
Planning and Design
Some tires are custom designed to meet the performance and stress needs specified by a specific vehicle model. Usually, the process starts with a computer.
The software will convert the needs of the vehicle into specifications for the tire design. At this point, prototype tires are made to test it and ensure the desired characteristics are seen.
You can see this site for some examples of customized tires created during the planning and design stage.
The Manufacturing of the Tire
Once the raw materials are acquired, and the planning and design of the tire are complete, the manufacturing process will begin. This is a multi-step process, which includes:
- Mixing of raw materials
- Remilling of the mix with needed chemicals
- Roll out the materials into thick sheets
- Use a wire wrapping machine for tire beads
- Use of the extruder to add sidewalls and tread
- Green tires put inside a mold for curing
- Tire removed from the mold for cooling and testing
While this may be a simple overview of the manufacturing process, as you can see, there’s a lot that goes into making the tires on your vehicle.
Now You Know How Are Rubber Tires Made?
If you have ever wondered, “how are rubber tires made,” the information above should help to answer your question. Knowing more about the ins and outs of the manufacturing process can help you appreciate these modern, innovative vehicle components.
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