Tire

The tire’s INNERLINER -- keeps air inside the tire.

The CASING (or CARCASS) – the internal substructure of the tire.

The tire’s BEAD -- assures an airtight fit with the wheel and efficient transfer of forces from the wheel to the carcass of the tire.

BEAD FILLER – reduces flex and aids in deflection.

A Tire’s BODY PLIES – withstands the forces of the tire’s inflation pressure, provides the mechanical link from the from the wheel movement to the tread are and flexibility to supplement the vehicle’s suspension system.

The SIDEWALL -- protects the side of the tire from road and curb attack from atmospheric degradation.

A tire’s BELTS -- stabilize and strengthen the tread, allowing forces to be efficiently transferred to thetread area.

Its BELT EDGE INSULATION – helps to reduce friction.

The TREAD -- provides the frictional coupling to the road surface to generate traction and steering

Forces.

Ribs are a pattern that includes grooves around the tire in the direction of rotation.

Lugs are the sections of rubber that make contact with the terrain.

Tread blocks are raised rubber compound segments on the outside visible part of a tire.

Sipes are small lateral cuts made in the surface of the tread to improve traction.

Kerfs are shallow slits molded into the tire tread for added traction – this term often used interchangeably with sipes.

Grooves are circumferential or lateral channels between adjacent tread ribs or tread blocks.

Shoulder blocks are the tread elements of segments on the tire tread nearest to the sidewall.

Voids are the spaces that are located between the lugs.