Textile fabric

The fabric gives shape, strength and reinforcement to the tyre cover. In earlier



days square woven fabrics were used but now weft less fabrics are being used which have


fiber threads in parallel with just enough cross threads to hold the parallel strands in place


before it is impregnated with rubber. Too much cross threads will cause friction and wear


in ride conditions. Each individual thread in the parallel strand is called a cord. Fabric


cord quality is based on its strength, stretch, elasticity and shrinkage


. In earlier days cotton was used but during 1939-45 war when cotton became


scarce, synthetic fibers like rayon were utilized. Synthetic fibers had better resistance to


more heat generated in synthetic tyres. For heavy-duty tyres, fine twisted steel cords are


used. Other synthetic fibers include nylon, aramid, fiberglass and polyester. Normal


fibers in use now are nylon and plyester

Aramid fibers are used in the tread area to provide high-speed performance and

reduce centerline buckling under low inflation.


Synthetic fibers come in the form of yarn, raw fabric and dipped fabric. They


usually come in the form of huge rolls and are specialized and critical to the rubber


process.