Car tyres are a complex assembly of materials with very different properties. The following are some of the key elements:
1. Tread
The tread rubber compound determines how well the tyre grips dry roads. In the wet, the best car tyres disperse water using the grooves of the tread, maintaining rubber contact and therefore grip.
2. Steel belt
Rubber-wrapped bundles of steel wire give structural rigidity to the tyre and hold the tread flat to maintain good contact with the road.
3. Sidewalls
These combine with the air in the tyre to carry the load. Lower, stiffer sidewalls (as found on 'low profile' tyres) help the tyre retain its shape better when cornering. This improves handling but can also make the car's ride less comfortable.
The outside of the sidewall is where you will find the tyre size and specification markings, which you can find out more about in How to read car tyres.
4. Bead-wires
These are ultra-strong steel wires with extreme resistance to stretching, which hold the tyre onto the rim – even at very high speeds and when cornering.
