Reply To: Proper Tire Inflation Pressure

[Gregory Long]

Bias-belted tires and Radial tires [which have tread-belts] came about in response to the problems with flexing tread surfaces, uneven wear with wider tires, and poor wet and snow traction,

All of these issues are improved with a belt under the tread, to reduce tread flex.

There was an interesting tire advertisement that had a bias and either a radial or bias-belted tire driven over a glass floor, and the tread was filmed from underneath. It was very noticeable that the tread ‘squeezed’ together on the unbelted tread tires as the car’s weight was on them. The groves closed right up.

The belted tread stayed open, the grooves stayed open. It was mentioned that this allowed the tires to be used in winter weather in some snow and slush conditions.

The under and overinflation wear was also lessened with a belted tread.

Fill ’em up, drive ’em hard, and wear ’em out.

Greg Long