The wheel is an important piece of technology that has been in existence for a large part of human history, invented by the Sumerians in 4500 BC. It has been used to make transportation much easier. Before the invention of the wheel, the only way to move items long distances was by putting them on a horse or other animal. The wheel enabled the use of carts which would allow merchants to take a heavier load of goods easily. The wheel has seen a lot of innovation since its creation. Before it was used for transportation, it was merely used to make pottery in Mesopotamian society and wasn’t used for transportation for the next 300 years(Gamboni). That’s when the Greeks developed the concept of a wheel and axle. For the wheel to support a cart, it would need to be connected to an axle that would hold up the cart, and the axle had to fit snugly but not be too tight to avoid any friction. A major development in the wheel’s history was in 1888, when Karl Benz invented the first gasoline car, equipping its wheels with metal tires covered with rubber to give it cushioning, which was the first tire invented. As technology became more advance through the years, better technology for tires innovated them, such as the addition of threads, and better synthetic materials that allowed for more control and sustainability. A great example of all this innovation at work can be seen in the Michelin Defender T+H 94994 tire, which provides a longer tire life and a steadier ride than the competition.

The wheel is an important piece of technology that has been in existence for a large part of human history, invented by the Sumerians in 4500 BC. It has been used to make transportation much easier. Before the invention of the wheel, the only way to move items long distances was by putting them on a horse or other animal. The wheel enabled the use of carts which would allow merchants to take a heavier load of goods easily. The wheel has seen a lot of innovation since its creation. Before it was used for transportation, it was merely used to make pottery in Mesopotamian society and wasn’t used for transportation for the next 300 years(Gamboni). That’s when the Greeks developed the concept of a wheel and axle. For the wheel to support a cart, it would need to be connected to an axle that would hold up the cart, and the axle had to fit snugly but not be too tight to avoid any friction. A major development in the wheel’s history was in 1888, when Karl Benz invented the first gasoline car, equipping its wheels with metal tires covered with rubber to give it cushioning, which was the first tire invented. As technology became more advance through the years, better technology for tires innovated them, such as the addition of threads, and better synthetic materials that allowed for more control and sustainability. A great example of all this innovation at work can be seen in the Michelin Defender T+H 94994 tire, which provides a longer tire life and a steadier ride than the competition.

The Michelin Defender T+H is one of Michelin’s top of the line tires that implements new technology. The 94994 model has a tire size, load index and speed rating of 185/60R15 84H. This means that the tires can each handle a load of 1135 pounds, has a width of 185 millimeters, was constructed using the radial method, works with wheels that are 15 inches in diameter, and the sidewall of the tire is 111 millimeters high. It has a Universal Tire Quality Grading tread score of 820, traction score A and temp score B, meaning that it controls smoothly and is able to stop quickly while handling strong temperatures. Its rim width range is 5”-6.5”, with a section width of 7.44” and it has an overall diameter of 23.74”. Its tread depth is 10 32nds of an inch, and the tire weighs 16.95 lbs. Its maximum load per tire is 1102 lbs. at 44 psi, so four tires combined can carry up to 4408 pounds provided it is at a standard pressure(Michelin).. These numbers are important to know in case the tire needs to be repaired, having the specs at the ready is very helpful for repairs.

There are a total of 7 parts in the Defender T+H tire that all work together, as seen in Figure 1. There is the 1)Inner Liner, 2)Carcass Ply,  4) Beads, 5)Sidewall, 6)Crown Piles/Belts, 7)Cap Ply, 8)Tread and the drum which is not pictured. These parts are numbered as they appear in Figure 1. Part number 3 in Figure 1 is not part of the tire, it shows an area in which the beads(Part 4) lay on. Each one of these parts has an integral role to the function of the tire and will be described more below.

            The drum of the tire is the skeleton of the tire during its construction. The drum tire’s purpose is to provide a base for the rest of the parts of the tire to lie upon and provide the structure for the tire(Michelin). The drum is a rotating metal cylinder which has edges that can be brought together, and an inflatable center.

            The first layer that is placed onto the drum is the inner liner. The inner liner is first layer of the tire and makes sure that the tire retains its pressure through all conditions. The inner liner is a thin sheet of synthetic halobutyl rubber, placed on the drum and made airtight so that the tire can uphold its pressure(2B1st). It is very important that the inner liner is airtight because it seals in all the air, and if it is not, the tires pressure will leak and slowly flatten. Michelin uses top quality air pumps to ensure that it stays on airtight and that the pressure will stay even through the toughest conditions.  

The inner liner is then covered by the carcass ply, which consists of 1400 thin cables that are encased in rubber. The cables are made from polyester and are spun together tightly to make them as strong as possible. Polyester was used for the cables due to it being lightweight and very strong. The cables wrap around the inner layer horizontally all around the tire as seen in Figure 3. These cables help support the rest of the tire, helping it keep its shape and retain pressure. Each one of the cables can support up to 33 lbs., making the carcass ply very sturdy, providing a large part of the tire’s strength (Michelin).

            The tire beads are placed on top of the carcass ply and are one of the most invaluable parts of the tire. Each tire has two tire beads placed on opposite sides. The tire beads are a hoop shaped, high-tensile steel formation fitting around the rim of the carcass ply, reinforced by polyester cords like those found in the carcass ply. They are straight steel strands that are aligned on the tire and looped around tightly (Michelin). The bead ensures air tightness and transfers the acceleration/braking power from the engine into the tire. The beads also support the weight of the vehicle, as each wire can take a load of up to 3,968 lbs. without risk of breaking, and with two on each tire, four tires can handle 31,746 lbs. (Michelin). The beads are supported by bead filling, or apexes, which are two layers of ply fabric which help keep the beads in place in the process described above. After the beads are placed onto the carcass ply, the edges of the carcass ply fold over the top of it to keep the beads as secured as possible.  

After the beads are fully placed and secured, the sidewalls are added to the tire. The sidewalls are made of tough flexible rubber. The sidewalls purpose is to protect the rest of the tire from any damage from driving(Michelin). Important details such as tire size and speed rating are written on the sidewall for ease of access. The sidewall is part of the finishing touches on the tire, after it is placed the tire begins too take form and the final parts are added. After the sidewalls have been installed, the drum of the tire inflates, changing the tire from the cylinder shape seen earlier in Figure 1 into the familiar tire shape seen in Figure 4.

            After the tire has been inflated, two crown plies are added on top of the tire. They are thin but tough metal cords encapsulated by rubber. The cords in the crown plies are aligned to be in cross with both each other and the carcass ply, forming a diamond-like pattern that optimizes the strength of the crown plies (Michelin). They are both rigid and flexible, the rigidity makes it so the tires can resist the strains of turning and doesn’t expand due to the rotation of the tire. The flexibility of the crown plies makes it so the tire can absorb any deformations that would be caused by bumps and other obstacles in the road, protecting the carcass ply and beads from any damage it would have otherwise sustained. The crown plies are then surrounded by the crown belts which is another polyester cord, like the cords found in the carcass ply and the tire beads. The crown belts wind around the crown plies, and they help reduce distortion of the plies at high speeds (Goodyear). Because of the rigidity of the crown belts, they are able to maintain their shape in high pressure which keeps the tire from collapsing.

            On top of the crown plies and belts, one last final ply is added, the cap ply. The cap ply is a reinforced nylon fabric embedded in rubber that wraps around the crown plies and belts, in a similar fashion to the way the crown plies and belts. The cap ply uses nylon to reduce friction heating inside the tire, making sure no parts of the tire overheat which could cause it to lose its form (Fidan 1). The reinforced nylon cords also help reduce the stretching of the tire at high speeds which would also displace critical parts of the tire. Without the reinforced cap ply, the other belts and cords that were placed before this would not be able to fully support themselves if the speed or pressure becomes to high. However, with the support of the cap ply, all the betls, wires and plies in the tire work together to resist almost all speeds.

            After all the other parts have been placed successfully, the final part is added, the tread. The tread is the only part of the tire that touches the ground. It is made from a rubber that has been specially formulated to resist wear, with special patterns to help improve grip of the tire through all weather conditions. The tire treads are designed to last a long time because if the treads start to wear out it can be detrimental to the tire’s performance. The tread is responsible for keeping the tire and the car steady, and making sure that steering the vehicle is precise and smooth. Michelin uses their patented MaxTouch Construction^TM to maximize the lifespan of the tires treads so it does not need frequent repairs, as the tires can last up to 100,000 miles before needing service (Michelin).

That is how all the parts of the Michelin Defender T+H work together to form a strong and durable tire. The multiple layers all hold a key part in making sure that the tire can support the car and give a smooth ride. Every part is key to the tire’s performance, if there is an error in any of them the tire may completely fall apart. Overall, Michelin utilizes the best materials and uses extensive testing to make sure that the Defender T+H can outperform the rest of the competition, making it the tire to buy.

References

1. 2B1st Consulting (2012). Halobutyl.

Retrieved from https://www.2b1stconsulting.com/halobutyl/  

• Encyclopedia of Safety (2014). Photo tour to Yaroslavl a tire plant.

      Retrieved from http://survincity.com/2014/04/photo-tour-to-yaroslavl-a-tire-plant/

• Fidan, S. Nylon 6.6 As Superior Cap Ply.

      Retrieved from https://www.reinforcer.com/en/category/detail/Nylon-6-6-As-Superior-Cap-Ply/34/236/0

• Gambino, Megan (2009). A Salute to the Wheel.

Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-salute-to-the-wheel-31805121/?no-ist  

• Goodyear (n.d.). How Tires are Built.

      Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20100102031427/http://goodyeartires.com/about/diversity/how_built.html

• Mark, James E., Erman, Buran, Roland, C. Michael. (2013). The Science and Technology of Rubber. ScienceDirect.
• Michelin (n.d.). How is a Tire Made?

      Retrieved from https://www.michelinman.com/US/en/help/how-is-a-tire-made.html

• Michelin (n.d.). Michelin Defender T+H.

Retrieved from https://www.michelinman.com/tire/michelin/defender-t-plus-h

• Michelin (n.d.). Michelin Tire Glossary.

Retrieved from https://www.michelinman.com/US/en/help/glossary.html

7)   Michelin (n.d.). The Tire Digest: Architecthure

            Retrieved from https://thetiredigest.michelin.com/an-unknown-object-the-tire-architecture-of-the-tire#

8)   Michelin (n.d.). The Tire Digest: Manufacturing             Retrieved from https://thetiredigest.michelin.com/an-unknown-object-the-tire-manufacture-of-the-tire

n important piece of technology that has been in existence for a large part of human history, invented by the Sumerians in 4500 BC. It has been used to make transportation much easier. Before the invention of the wheel, the only way to move items long distances was by putting them on a horse or other animal. The wheel enabled the use of carts which would allow merchants to take a heavier load of goods easily. The wheel has seen a lot of innovation since its creation. Before it was used for transportation, it was merely used to make pottery in Mesopotamian society and wasn’t used for transportation for the next 300 years(Gamboni). That’s when the Greeks developed the concept of a wheel and axle. For the wheel to support a cart, it would need to be connected to an axle that would hold up the cart, and the axle had to fit snugly but not be too tight to avoid any friction. A major development in the wheel’s history was in 1888, when Karl Benz invented the first gasoline car, equipping its wheels with metal tires covered with rubber to give it cushioning, which was the first tire invented. As technology became more advance through the years, better technology for tires innovated them, such as the addition of threads, and better synthetic materials that allowed for more control and sustainability. A great example of all this innovation at work can be seen in the Michelin Defender T+H 94994 tire, which provides a longer tire life and a steadier ride than the competition.

The Michelin Defender T+H is one of Michelin’s top of the line tires that implements new technology. The 94994 model has a tire size, load index and speed rating of 185/60R15 84H. This means that the tires can each handle a load of 1135 pounds, has a width of 185 millimeters, was constructed using the radial method, works with wheels that are 15 inches in diameter, and the sidewall of the tire is 111 millimeters high. It has a Universal Tire Quality Grading tread score of 820, traction score A and temp score B, meaning that it controls smoothly and is able to stop quickly while handling strong temperatures. Its rim width range is 5”-6.5”, with a section width of 7.44” and it has an overall diameter of 23.74”. Its tread depth is 10 32nds of an inch, and the tire weighs 16.95 lbs. Its maximum load per tire is 1102 lbs. at 44 psi, so four tires combined can carry up to 4408 pounds provided it is at a standard pressure(Michelin).. These numbers are important to know in case the tire needs to be repaired, having the specs at the ready is very helpful for repairs.

There are a total of 7 parts in the Defender T+H tire that all work together, as seen in Figure 1. There is the 1)Inner Liner, 2)Carcass Ply,  4) Beads, 5)Sidewall, 6)Crown Piles/Belts, 7)Cap Ply, 8)Tread and the drum which is not pictured. These parts are numbered as they appear in Figure 1. Part number 3 in Figure 1 is not part of the tire, it shows an area in which the beads(Part 4) lay on. Each one of these parts has an integral role to the function of the tire and will be described more below.

            The drum of the tire is the skeleton of the tire during its construction. The drum tire’s purpose is to provide a base for the rest of the parts of the tire to lie upon and provide the structure for the tire(Michelin). The drum is a rotating metal cylinder which has edges that can be brought together, and an inflatable center.

            The first layer that is placed onto the drum is the inner liner. The inner liner is first layer of the tire and makes sure that the tire retains its pressure through all conditions. The inner liner is a thin sheet of synthetic halobutyl rubber, placed on the drum and made airtight so that the tire can uphold its pressure(2B1st). It is very important that the inner liner is airtight because it seals in all the air, and if it is not, the tires pressure will leak and slowly flatten. Michelin uses top quality air pumps to ensure that it stays on airtight and that the pressure will stay even through the toughest conditions.  

The inner liner is then covered by the carcass ply, which consists of 1400 thin cables that are encased in rubber. The cables are made from polyester and are spun together tightly to make them as strong as possible. Polyester was used for the cables due to it being lightweight and very strong. The cables wrap around the inner layer horizontally all around the tire as seen in Figure 3. These cables help support the rest of the tire, helping it keep its shape and retain pressure. Each one of the cables can support up to 33 lbs., making the carcass ply very sturdy, providing a large part of the tire’s strength (Michelin).

            The tire beads are placed on top of the carcass ply and are one of the most invaluable parts of the tire. Each tire has two tire beads placed on opposite sides. The tire beads are a hoop shaped, high-tensile steel formation fitting around the rim of the carcass ply, reinforced by polyester cords like those found in the carcass ply. They are straight steel strands that are aligned on the tire and looped around tightly (Michelin). The bead ensures air tightness and transfers the acceleration/braking power from the engine into the tire. The beads also support the weight of the vehicle, as each wire can take a load of up to 3,968 lbs. without risk of breaking, and with two on each tire, four tires can handle 31,746 lbs. (Michelin). The beads are supported by bead filling, or apexes, which are two layers of ply fabric which help keep the beads in place in the process described above. After the beads are placed onto the carcass ply, the edges of the carcass ply fold over the top of it to keep the beads as secured as possible.  

After the beads are fully placed and secured, the sidewalls are added to the tire. The sidewalls are made of tough flexible rubber. The sidewalls purpose is to protect the rest of the tire from any damage from driving(Michelin). Important details such as tire size and speed rating are written on the sidewall for ease of access. The sidewall is part of the finishing touches on the tire, after it is placed the tire begins too take form and the final parts are added. After the sidewalls have been installed, the drum of the tire inflates, changing the tire from the cylinder shape seen earlier in Figure 1 into the familiar tire shape seen in Figure 4.

            After the tire has been inflated, two crown plies are added on top of the tire. They are thin but tough metal cords encapsulated by rubber. The cords in the crown plies are aligned to be in cross with both each other and the carcass ply, forming a diamond-like pattern that optimizes the strength of the crown plies (Michelin). They are both rigid and flexible, the rigidity makes it so the tires can resist the strains of turning and doesn’t expand due to the rotation of the tire. The flexibility of the crown plies makes it so the tire can absorb any deformations that would be caused by bumps and other obstacles in the road, protecting the carcass ply and beads from any damage it would have otherwise sustained. The crown plies are then surrounded by the crown belts which is another polyester cord, like the cords found in the carcass ply and the tire beads. The crown belts wind around the crown plies, and they help reduce distortion of the plies at high speeds (Goodyear). Because of the rigidity of the crown belts, they are able to maintain their shape in high pressure which keeps the tire from collapsing.

            On top of the crown plies and belts, one last final ply is added, the cap ply. The cap ply is a reinforced nylon fabric embedded in rubber that wraps around the crown plies and belts, in a similar fashion to the way the crown plies and belts. The cap ply uses nylon to reduce friction heating inside the tire, making sure no parts of the tire overheat which could cause it to lose its form (Fidan 1). The reinforced nylon cords also help reduce the stretching of the tire at high speeds which would also displace critical parts of the tire. Without the reinforced cap ply, the other belts and cords that were placed before this would not be able to fully support themselves if the speed or pressure becomes to high. However, with the support of the cap ply, all the betls, wires and plies in the tire work together to resist almost all speeds.

            After all the other parts have been placed successfully, the final part is added, the tread. The tread is the only part of the tire that touches the ground. It is made from a rubber that has been specially formulated to resist wear, with special patterns to help improve grip of the tire through all weather conditions. The tire treads are designed to last a long time because if the treads start to wear out it can be detrimental to the tire’s performance. The tread is responsible for keeping the tire and the car steady, and making sure that steering the vehicle is precise and smooth. Michelin uses their patented MaxTouch Construction^TM to maximize the lifespan of the tires treads so it does not need frequent repairs, as the tires can last up to 100,000 miles before needing service (Michelin).

That is how all the parts of the Michelin Defender T+H work together to form a strong and durable tire. The multiple layers all hold a key part in making sure that the tire can support the car and give a smooth ride. Every part is key to the tire’s performance, if there is an error in any of them the tire may completely fall apart. Overall, Michelin utilizes the best materials and uses extensive testing to make sure that the Defender T+H can outperform the rest of the competition, making it the tire to buy.

References

1. 2B1st Consulting (2012). Halobutyl.

Retrieved from https://www.2b1stconsulting.com/halobutyl/  

• Encyclopedia of Safety (2014). Photo tour to Yaroslavl a tire plant.

      Retrieved from http://survincity.com/2014/04/photo-tour-to-yaroslavl-a-tire-plant/

• Fidan, S. Nylon 6.6 As Superior Cap Ply.

      Retrieved from https://www.reinforcer.com/en/category/detail/Nylon-6-6-As-Superior-Cap-Ply/34/236/0

• Gambino, Megan (2009). A Salute to the Wheel.

Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-salute-to-the-wheel-31805121/?no-ist  

• Goodyear (n.d.). How Tires are Built.

      Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20100102031427/http://goodyeartires.com/about/diversity/how_built.html

• Mark, James E., Erman, Buran, Roland, C. Michael. (2013). The Science and Technology of Rubber. ScienceDirect.
• Michelin (n.d.). How is a Tire Made?

      Retrieved from https://www.michelinman.com/US/en/help/how-is-a-tire-made.html

• Michelin (n.d.). Michelin Defender T+H.

Retrieved from https://www.michelinman.com/tire/michelin/defender-t-plus-h

• Michelin (n.d.). Michelin Tire Glossary.

Retrieved from https://www.michelinman.com/US/en/help/glossary.html

7)   Michelin (n.d.). The Tire Digest: Architecthure

            Retrieved from https://thetiredigest.michelin.com/an-unknown-object-the-tire-architecture-of-the-tire#

8)   Michelin (n.d.). The Tire Digest: Manufacturing             Retrieved from https://thetiredigest.michelin.com/an-unknown-object-the-tire-manufacture-of-the-tire

_____________________________________________________________

Here is the reflection I wrote after completing the assignment

The essay I wrote for this third assignment was a technical description, where we had to analyze multiple parts of a product and explain how they worked in the product. The product I chose was a Michelin tire. Writing this paper was rather difficult because there was not much in depth descriptions to be made about the tire, so I focused a lot on how the tire was built while still explaining how each part works. Unlike the last two papers I feel like I understood my audience quite well on this paper. I chose for my audience to be a person stocking their stores with my product, so they had to know how my product worked and why they should buy it over other brands of tire. I explained the parts in depth and the process so the stocker would know how it works and why the tire is very good.

            I think this report has helped me a lot in achieving the course learning outcomes. I have never written a technical description before, so it was interesting to shift my perspective and write on, as it had to be very formal, and as the name implies, technical. It helped me develop my rhetorical sensibility as I had to adapt to this new form of communication and a new audience. I had to reanalyze the genre I was writing in and tune my writing for that genre making it technical and straight to the point. A big factor in this paper was receiving feedback from  my peers and professor, as I could learn more about how to write in this style, and compare papers to improve on parts that were weak in my paper.