Tires 101: An Introduction: Difference between revisions

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==Radials==

And that brings us to an important matter for tire buyers: Should I buy a radial tire? The answer is a firm "maybe". (The answer for ~~EX 250~~ owners is a firm "uhh, forget it.") To understand the difference between a radial and a bias ply tire, it helps to know a little bit about tire construction.

And that brings us to an important matter for tire buyers: Should I buy a radial tire? The answer is a firm "maybe". (The answer for EX250 owners is a firm "uhh, forget it.") To understand the difference between a radial and a bias ply tire, it helps to know a little bit about tire construction.

A tire is nothing more than a bladder for air. It is made of rubber reinforced with some sort of fiber. (Once they were reinforced with canvas; now they're reinforced with kevlar. Times have changed). The rubber keeps the air in, and the fiber keeps the tire together, in addition to imparting shape characteristics to the tire. Tires are constructed in layers, each layer consisting of fibers laid in parallel, then impregnated with rubber. The final element is the bead, which is simply a wire put around the edge of the tire to help it clamp to the rim.

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 ==Radials==
-And that brings us to an important matter for tire buyers: Should I buy a radial tire? The answer is a firm "maybe". (The answer for EX 250 owners is a firm "uhh, forget it.") To understand the difference between a radial and a bias ply tire, it helps to know a little bit about tire construction.
+And that brings us to an important matter for tire buyers: Should I buy a radial tire? The answer is a firm "maybe". (The answer for EX250 owners is a firm "uhh, forget it.") To understand the difference between a radial and a bias ply tire, it helps to know a little bit about tire construction.
 A tire is nothing more than a bladder for air. It is made of rubber reinforced with some sort of fiber. (Once they were reinforced with canvas; now they're reinforced with kevlar. Times have changed). The rubber keeps the air in, and the fiber keeps the tire together, in addition to imparting shape characteristics to the tire. Tires are constructed in layers, each layer consisting of fibers laid in parallel, then impregnated with rubber. The final element is the bead, which is simply a wire put around the edge of the tire to help it clamp to the rim.