You may not be familiar with some terminology describing processes used in tire manufacturing. Below are definitions of the terms unique to the tire industry.

BEAD WRAP

This the process that forms the bead. After the bead wire is coated with rubber, it is wrapped forming the circle-shaped bead that will be used in constructing the bead assembly.

CALENDERING

Calendering is a process in tire manufacturing where steel or fabric is coated with rubber. Steel belts, body plies, cap plies, and belt edge covers are all produced using the calendering process. Steel or fabric is placed between two large heavy rollers. Rubber is also inserted between the rollers at the top and bottom of the material being coated. As the material moves through the rollers the pressure forces the rubber to permeate and adhere to the steel or fabric.

EXTRUSION

Extrusion is a process used to manufacture shaped solid rubber. Treads, sidewalls, and bead fillers are manufactured using extruders. An example of extruding is cake decorating. To decorate the cake, the decorator squeezes icing through tips shaped to form different shapes. The decorator is extruding icing.

INTERNAL MIXER

The internal mixer is a large, multistory, enclosed mixer used to mix oil, rubber, and chemicals into all the rubber compounds used in manufacturing tires.

CURING

Is the process where a green tire is the assembled components that make up a tire before it is cured. Curing bonds all the different rubber components of a tire together. The tread design and sidewall nomenclature are also molded into the tire during the curing process.