Is beauty only skin deep?
Few people think of the modern radial truck tire as a thing
of beauty. But from a design standpoint, there's much to
admire.
One of the routine checks often made during manufacturing
is to x-ray a tire to examine its "skeleton." Because the
steel cords of the body ply are so much denser than the
rubber that surrounds them, they stop x-rays, leaving their
mark on the film as precisely spaced lines.
These lines begin at the bead area, go out to the crown
and back again to the bead. Because each line is in the
same position as a radius of the tire circle, these "radial"
cords are what give the radial tire its name, and much of
its strength.
X-rays like these are used to check for consistent cord
spacing, and by retreaders to look for cord damage that
might affect retreadability. And they show us that sometimes,
real beauty is on the inside.
|
|
