Are Michelin tires steel-belted?
In 1946, Michelin patented the steel-belted radial tire construction, revolutionizing the industry with a steel belt and carcass threads arranged at right angles to the direction of travel. The steel belts inside a steel-belted radial hold the tread firmly and evenly on the ground when the tire’s sidewall flexes. This ensures the tread contacts the ground as it’s designed to, which leads to better traction, less slippage, and improved fuel consumption.
What is the difference between belted and radial tires?
Steel-belted tires offer superior load capacity and durability, making them ideal for heavy-duty truck applications and commercial use. Radial tires offer improved handling characteristics and fuel efficiency for daily driving, although they’re more susceptible to sidewall damage in harsh off-road conditions. Radial tires are more fuel-efficient thanks to reduced rolling resistance, which improves gas mileage and lowers long-term costs. They also provide better ride comfort. Bias-ply tires, while durable, fall short in fuel efficiency and are less forgiving on uneven terrain due to their rigid construction.Disadvantages of the radial tire include a harder ride at low speeds on rough roads and in the context of off-roading, decreased “self-cleaning” ability, a more rigid sidewall and lower grip ability at low speeds.Disadvantages of the radial tyre include a harder ride at low speeds on rough roads and in the context of off-roading, decreased “self-cleaning” ability, a more rigid sidewall and lower grip ability at low speeds.In general, Radial tyres tend to last longer than Bias Ply tyres. This is due to several factors, including the construction of the tyre, the materials used in the tyre, and the way the tyre is designed to handle road conditions.
What does steel belted radial mean?
A radial tire has steel belts that are oriented at a significantly different angle than the 90 degree radial plys. This allows the sidewall and tread to function as two independent features of the tire. A bias tire consists of multiple rubber plies over lapping each other at a 30-45 degree angle. Radial tyres offer a smoother, more comfortable ride than Bias Ply tyres. Radial tyres run cooler at highway speeds and under load. They are more fuel-efficient and have a longer lifespan. Radial tyres are more resistant to punctures and can handle high-speed driving better.