Production of tires. Creation of a rubber mixture. Production of Nokian Tires tires in Russia

19.10.2018 Auto/Moto

Technological process of tire production

High-quality and other special equipment are quite complex products from a technological point of view. The process of their production may vary depending on the manufacturer, but the manufacture of any model, for example, involves the following main steps.

Rubber preparation. The first stage consists of plasticizing the raw material in order to give it primary elasticity and homogeneity. To do this, the rubber is pulled through rollers rotating at different peripheral speeds. Plasticization in worm presses and rubber mixers is also possible.

Carbon Black and Silica: Used as a reinforcing agent to increase strength. Reinforcing cables are metal and textile: the “skeleton” of the rim, which gives geometric shape and provides rigidity. Numerous chemicals: to provide unique properties such as low rolling resistance or ultra-strong grip. Natural rubber: the main component of the tread. . We create many different designs and use simulations to test and select the best tire concepts for development.

We build every tire using both manual and automated processes. Quality control is not only last step. The tread design of a tire is critical to its performance. Tread design plays a key role in how your tire grips in a variety of driving situations and can affect both your safety and driving enjoyment.

Preparation of rubber mixtures. This stage of the production cycle is the introduction of substances into the rubber mass that give it the necessary properties (frost resistance, flexibility, color, etc.). The mixture contains: active and inactive fillers (silicic acid, carbon black), vulcanizing agents (sulfur and activators), softeners (resins and oils), dyes. The quality of the rubber depends on the percentage of concentration of each component in rubber.

Safety: example of grip on wet roads

To understand the function of a tire's tread on a wet road, it helps to think about a water pump. The more channels a tread has, the better it can pump water away from the rim and road. Remarkably, you can remove water in just a few milliseconds.

Design elements that act on wet surfaces. Groove Index: The more or more grooves a tire has, the better it pumps water. Shape and Layout: The shape of the tread pattern helps with how water drains away. Acting like windshields, the cutouts help the rims and rim grooves to drain water.

  • Spikes: These are thin holes in the rubber surface of the tread.
  • They improve traction in situations where surfaces are wet or frozen.
Structural elements that act on dry surfaces.

Cord processing. This process is carried out on special calender devices, where metal cord threads and cord fibers are pulled into the gap between the rolls and covered with thin layers of rubber mixture.

Manufacturing of breaker and frame. Cord layers are made by cutting a web of rubberized cord into blanks at a certain angle. This operation is carried out on a diagonal cutting machine. For the layers of the frame, strips are made that are wider than the breaker and have different cutting angles.

A typical radial tire consists of nine main parts

Rim Profile: Smooth profile with square shoulders provides good cornering support. Number of grooves: The lower the percentage of grooves in the tread patterns, the more rubber is in direct contact with the floor and the more better level capture. Tread Blocks: The more individual rubber blocks in a tread design, the better the grip. Self-closing grooves: Tread blocks with many undercuts reduce the rigidity of the belt pattern. To counteract this effect, we introduced complex 3D cuts that close when loaded. But it may cause more noise when walking. . An inner-lined layer consisting of thin fiber cords bonded to rubber.

Assembly. At this stage, tires are assembled from blanks by sequentially winding carcass and belt layers on special drum machines. Then the side rings and protector are installed on the resulting workpiece.

Vulcanization (polymerization process). This process occurs in vulcanizers. The mold itself is treated with steam or water supplied inside under high temperatures (up to 200 °C) and pressure. As a result, the tire is pressed into shape and acquires a tread pattern. Vulcanization gives rubber elasticity and strength.

These cables greatly determine the strength of the rim and help resist pressure. Engine strength and braking force are transferred from the rim to the contact area with the road surface. They are pressed firmly against the rim of the rim to ensure a tight fit and keep the rim properly seated in the wheel. There are eight of these cables in your car: two for each bus.

Protects the rim side from bumps and edges on the road. On the side of the rim are written important details this, such as measurement and speed range. It consists of very thin, stable steel ropes glued to rubber. This means the tire can withstand cornering forces and does not expand due to tire rotation.

A smoothly running tire manufacturing plant can put on several thousand cars a day. It goes without saying that making tires is a complex production process, the result of which is modern “shoes” for our “iron horses”.

The tire manufacturing process begins with the preparation of raw materials. The amount of special rubber compounds in each tire is approximately 80%, the remaining 20% ​​are other raw materials that help strengthen the tire structure. The main components of a high-quality tire are: natural rubber obtained by processing the rubber tree, carbon black (also known as soot) and resin or oil, the main function of which is to soften the rubber mixture. In addition to the above-mentioned components, zinc oxide and other chemicals that are necessary for rubber vulcanization are used to produce rubber compounds.


The next stage of the tire production process is the production of rubber compounds and components. At the so-called mixing stage, the prepared raw material is mixed and heated to a temperature of +120°C. Each part of the tire has its own rubber compound composition. Thus, the “formulation” of the mixture for summer tires of a passenger car differs significantly from the composition of rubber for winter tires. By the way, automation of the process eliminates the possibility of mixing anything up. The mentioned rubber mixtures are also used in the process of rubberizing components, which include bead rings, steel belts, and fabric cords. In the tire manufacturing process, about 20-30 components are used, the main functionality of which is to strengthen the structure of the future tire.

It's also flexible enough to absorb deformation caused by bumps, bumps and other road hazards. This important protective layer reduces frictional heat and helps maintain the shape of the rim during high speed driving. To avoid centrifugal stretching of the rim, ropes secured with nylon are inserted into the rubber layer and placed around the circumference of the rim. They provide a rigid tread base. It provides traction and traction to tires and is designed to withstand wear, abrasion and high temperature . Progress in the desired autonomous driving project should be highlighted. The delay for commercial launch has more to do with the issue of coexistence between driverless and conventional cars and within different legal frameworks. Additionally, several studies show that new generations are more likely to use vehicles

Next comes the scrupulous stage of tire assembly. From the required ingredients, the process operator produces a tire blank (also called a “raw tire”) using special assembly equipment. The tire frame is assembled on one of the drums of the machine, and the breaker package is assembled on the other (it is also called a “gravity belt” - these are sheets of steel cord placed between the tread and the tire frame, which fit the latter around the circumference). Then the assembled frame is given the desired profile shape of the future tire, after which a complete breaker package is applied to it using a moving mechanism. Then the tire carcass and the steel belt pack are pressed against each other. As a result, the above-mentioned raw tire is obtained, ready for the vulcanization process.


After this, they begin the final stage of the technical process - vulcanization. Blanks of future tires are vulcanized in the following way: the diaphragm of the vulcanizing machine expands using steam under high pressure and presses the raw tire to the surface of the metal mold. This is how the tread pattern appears. By the way, it is at this stage that holes are made for the studs on winter tires. Due to a chemical reaction, the rubber becomes flexible and durable, and after a few minutes the finished tire “pops out” from the installation.


It all depends on access to types of mobility, says Guillaume Grondo. In this regard, several companies already offer car rental or the possibility of shared routes. Manufacturers know that it is important to diversify operations and that innovation must be present at all levels, which is why participation in mobility services is an upward trend. Concentration on unit production no longer guarantees high profits. Owners do not need to perform any management and receive dividends.

Tire manufacturers are also trying to adapt to new requirements. It views independent innovation as a source of development and competitiveness as its main virtue. It has a national center for technological development and research in the development of American technology. Currently, the company has already received a total of three hundred and fifty-four patents.

It should be noted that each tire undergoes strict quality checks. It is carefully inspected and tested using special testing equipment. Visual inspection is carried out to select tires with external defects, and the correct geometry, radial runout, shape and weight of the tire are checked on a machine. After a thorough check, the tire is tested, and only after that is marked with model data.


Modern car tires with full confidence it can be called a masterpiece of engineering and technology.