Disks, tires, wheels
When is the right time to grind a brake disc?
Stuttering, jerky brakes can be associated with undulating brake disc wear. This does not necessarily require a new set of brake discs. Under certain circumstances, brake discs can be made fully functional with a simple, quick and cheap solution. Each braking maneuver places a high load on the material, which always causes some abrasion. As a result, brake discs can wear unevenly, with potentially fatal consequences: stopping distances are lengthened, and vibrations of the car and steering wheel are clearly felt during hard braking. Why grind a brake disc? To grind or not to grind is not a question, but a simple equation: No disassembly is required to grind a brake disc. Workshops offering this service usually have the necessary equipment to process brake discs without having to remove them. You only need to remove the wheel and brake caliper. Professional Surface Grinding…
Expensive, but forever: ceramic brake discs
A spacecraft entering the Earth's atmosphere experiences intense air resistance. That is why space capsules and shuttles have thermal protection that can withstand high temperatures. These ceramic tiles have found their way into the automotive industry in the form of brake discs. After all, the brake system is most affected by high temperatures due to friction. What are ceramic brakes? When you hear the word "pottery", you might think of pottery. Indeed, ceramic components are in high demand in the industry. Their particularly strong insulating effect against power surges and heat makes them a suitable material for extreme environments. The brakes use a special ceramic material: a composite of carbon fiber and silicon carbide is the perfect blend to absorb high frictional energy. Thus, ceramic brakes are equipped with one or more components made of this material, which gives both…
No nonsense - the benefits of perforated brake discs
Disc brakes on all four wheels are now standard on modern vehicles. The drum brakes serve only as a parking brake. Even in compact vehicles, the moving masses and engine power are too high for simple drum brakes to guarantee safe braking. However, the problem that applies to all brakes has a name: brake fade. Preventing Brake Wear with High Performance Brakes Brake fade is the loss of braking effect due to heat buildup in the brake system. If the heat generated during braking cannot be dissipated quickly enough, a dangerous situation arises: the temperature of the brake disc approaches the melting point and the friction between the brake lining and the brake disc deteriorates significantly. In drum brakes, this often leads to complete failure. But simple, non-perforated and solid brake discs also…
Preventing damage is the right way to store tires!
Summer is coming and with it summer tires. In summer it is allowed to drive on winter tires, but it is not recommended to do so. Seasonal tires have a positive effect on wear, driving performance and fuel consumption. The question arises: how to store winter tires so that they are suitable for use in the next winter season. Consequences of incorrect storage Tires are composite material structures consisting of a steel wire mesh, the so-called carcass, surrounded by a rubber coating. The strengthening of a rubber coating is called "vulcanization". The rubber is strongly heated until it is liquid enough to create an airtight shell around the carcass. It is very important. The frame is stable and durable if it is protected from corrosion. Once air and moisture have penetrated the steel wire, the tire will soon be ready. AT…
A hernia on a wheel: is it possible to ride and what to do with it?
Most motorists have been familiar with the concept of wheel hernias since childhood, when a tire bulges on a bicycle. This usually happened on the lateral part, but cases of end formation are not uncommon. Although the car is equipped with stronger tires, the load on them is also much higher, so it can happen that the wheel on one side swells. Consider why this can happen, and is it possible to operate a damaged wheel? What is a hernia on a wheel? Wheel herniation refers to the deformation of the rubber in the form of swelling. This damage can appear both on the side of the tire and on the tread. Depending on the location of such damage, it can cause jolts, beating, vibration hum and other effects that make the vehicle move…
What are car tires made of?
Tire manufacturers hide the exact recipe for their manufacture. The main components remain unchanged. The characteristics of different models are different. This must be taken into account when choosing tires for the car. Types of rubber Regardless of the manufacturer, there are two types of tires on the market. Their technical characteristics are practically the same. Types of rubber: From natural raw materials. The composition is based on vegetable rubber. It is a natural substance that is extracted from the sap of trees. At the initial stage of the production of car tires, only rubber of plant origin was used. From synthetic raw materials. Modern tires are made from rubber, which is manufactured using chemicals. The material is resistant to vegetable and animal oils. Products made from synthetic rubber retain air well. Thanks to this, the material has received a wide…
How to store tires correctly
Twice a year, car owners are faced with the need to replace rubber. Difficulties arise not so much with the replacement (it is done in any tire fitting), but with the specifics of storing tires at different times of the year. A new set of "shoes" for a car is very expensive. Therefore, you need to take care of how to store tires in advance. General principles The first thing that every car enthusiast needs to learn is that tires should not be left lying around anywhere in unsuitable places for this (if only where: in the country house, balcony, etc.). To store them, you need to choose a cool dark room. At the same time, the humidity indicator in the room should be low - moisture has a detrimental effect on tires. As well as dirt, high temperature and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Any of…
Functions and varieties of snow chains on wheels
In certain road conditions, the car's own potential is not enough. A snow-covered section of the road, a steep climb covered with a crust of ice, a muddy area - in all these situations, snow chains installed on the wheels can help out. Such "accessories" for wheels endow the vehicle with off-road properties. The main task of automobile snow chains is to improve the adhesion of wheels to the road surface. What are wheel chains and what are their functions An anti-skid chain is a structure that is put on the wheels of a vehicle in order to improve its patency. The main plus of the product is that chains can be used only as needed. The chains are fixed on the wheels along the width of the tire from the outside with a special belt with fasteners. Wheel chains, thanks to improved traction, perform the following functions: ...
Tire load index: everything you need to know
Tires are an important element in ensuring your vehicle's grip on the road and your safety. There are many different tire models depending on the type of weather they are exposed to (summer, winter and 4-season tires), the speed they can handle and also the weight they can handle: this is the tire load index. 🚗 What is the Tire Load Index? The tire load index can be made up of two or three digits. In this case, in the photo above, the load index is 88. This index indicates the load capacity of your car tire, that is, the maximum load that it can support. This number is an index to which the weight in kilograms corresponds. For example, a load index of 88 corresponds to a maximum weight of 560 kg. This index...
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What are car tires made of?
What does marking on tires mean?
Low Profile Car Tires
Energy saving tires: features
To save fuel, vehicle owners install energy-efficient tires. These tires are designed to reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the environment. What are energy-saving tires In Europe every year more and more tighten the requirements for harmful emissions from the car. During the operation of an internal combustion engine, harmful substances are released into the atmosphere. This is due to the fact that when oil products ignite, combustion products are produced. In order for vehicles to comply with the regulations, manufacturers make changes to their design. Global brands install green tires on their cars. The material for the manufacture and the tread pattern allow you to reduce the degree of resistance when driving. This reduces fuel consumption and makes the car more environmentally friendly. How it works? When driving a car in an internal combustion engine ...
What does marking on tires mean?
The marking of a car tire can tell a lot about it: about the tire model, its dimension and speed index, as well as about the country of origin and the date of issue of the tire. Knowing these and other parameters, you can safely purchase tires without fear of making a mistake with their choice. But there are so many designations on the bus that you need to be able to decipher them correctly. These designations, as well as color marks and stripes on the tire, will be discussed in the article. Tire marking and decoding of their designations Designations on tires are marked by the manufacturer on its side. In this case, the marking is present on all tires. And it corresponds to the international standard, which is generally accepted. The following inscriptions are used on tires: information about the manufacturer; dimension and design of the tire; index…
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Hub cover: functions, service and price
What is a tubeless tire?
The tubeless tire is the standard tire in cars today. It was developed in the 1950s, replacing the old tube tires. Unlike this one, a tubeless tire does not have a visible tube. Its tightness is ensured by the inner membrane, and the tire is pressed against the rim. 🔍 What is the principle of operation of a tubeless tire? Le tubeless tire is the most common type of tire today. Most likely, your own car is equipped with it! This is a tubeless tire, the analogue of which is built directly into the tire. The tubeless tire was invented in 1928 by New Zealander Edward Bryce Killen. Patented in 1930, the tubeless tire gradually spread to all cars, thanks in part to manufacturers such as Michelin. Did you know? Tubeless tires are not just for cars.…
What is a stowaway - why do you need a spare wheel for a car
The kit of any modern car includes many different elements that can come in handy when the situation requires emergency measures from the driver. So, in the trunk of a car there should be a towing cable (its choice is described here) and a set of tools (what should be included in it is described in a separate review). Another important item that can help out in an emergency is a spare tire. With it, the driver will avoid additional expenses for the evacuation of the vehicle using a specially equipped tow truck. Let's consider how a classic wheel differs from a dokatka wheel, as well as how a spare tire is used in the case of certain types of cars. What is a proof? Dokatka is the same spare wheel, only in this case the manufacturer took care of saving space in the trunk of the car.…
Low Profile Car Tires
Among the varieties of car tuning, one of the very first changes that vehicles undergo is the installation of beautiful discs with a non-standard diameter. Usually this parameter is directed upwards. When the car owner installs large rims, in order for the wheel to fit in the arch, special low-profile tires must be placed on the rim. Such tires have both their pros and some cons. Consider what is special about such tires and how such modernization affects the technical condition of the car. What are low profile tires? A low profile tire is a modification in which the height of the rubber has a 55 percent ratio to its width (there are also options with a lower ratio). Here is an example of a low profile tire: width 205 / height 55 (not in millimeters, but as a percentage of the width) / radius 16 inches ...
The device and types of car tires
One of the main elements of an automobile wheel is a tire. It is mounted on a disk and ensures stable contact of the car with the road surface. While the vehicle is in motion, the tires absorb the resulting vibrations and vibrations caused by road irregularities, which ensures the comfort and safety of passengers. Depending on the operating conditions, tires can be made from various materials with a complex chemical composition and certain physical properties. Tires may also feature a tread pattern that provides reliable traction on surfaces with varying coefficients of friction. Knowing the structure of tires, the rules for their operation and the causes of premature wear, you can ensure the long life of rubber and driving safety in general. Tire functions The main functions of a car tire include: damping wheel vibrations from road surface irregularities; ...
Types and parameters of rims
One of the key elements of any car, without which transport is not able to drive a meter, is the wheel. The auto parts and components market offers a huge variety of rims for cars. Each motorist, depending on his material capabilities, is able to choose a style of wheels that can be installed on his car to emphasize its beauty. In addition, the car owner can use discs not only of non-standard diameter, but also of width. Splicing is very popular among car tuning enthusiasts. There is already a separate review about the advantages and disadvantages of this category of disks. For now, we'll focus on the standard wheels that are offered by auto parts manufacturers. They differ from each other not only in design. First of all, their differences lie in their…
