THE HISTORY OF THE WHEEL

The wheel was invented more than 20,000 years ago. The early wheel was usually made from wood but as wood was not flexible, the ride on them was very hard. In 1839, the vulcanization process was discovered, which gave rubber its elastiv properties. In 1888, the pneumatic tyre was reinvented and a patent was filed claiming 'ease of operation over rough roads, immunity from vibration and increased speed of the vehicles'.

By the 1920s, most tyres had steel wire beading, which allowed a tyre to remain firmly fitted to the wheel rim. The early tyres were mainly white because they took their colour from the reinforcing agent zinc oxide. It wasn't until carbon black was found to be the best reinforcing agent, that the tyre became black.

In 1948, a technical breakthrough occured through the introduction of radial tyres, which was to influence tyre design all over the world. The evolution of the radial tyre brought about numerous changes.

In-fact modern tyres are so good that often most of us take them for granted though it is very important that everyone should know about their tyres.

In India, JK Tyre pioneered the radial revolution while the competition was still churning out nylon tyres. We continued to innovate and develop tyres suited for Indian roads and driving conditions. In fact, this has led to JK Tyre becoming one of the leading car tyre brands in the country.

The world knows it as a tyre, but what does it really mean?

An annular toroidal shaped inflatable envelope made of an elastic material, natural or synthetic rubber or a blend thereof, reinforced with textile cord ply fabric carcaess (or steel for radial tyres), elclosing bead rings.

Tyres are an indispensable part of one's vehicle and hence needs to be chosen & looked after with care. Tyres are largely responsible for providing grip and hence any compromise on tyres is a compromise on safety.

What can a piece of rubber achieve?

• Absorb shocks and provide sufficient grip
• Respond quickly to steering inputs
• Work in tandem with the brakes to bring the vehicle to a safe stop in the shortest possible distance.
• Minimize rolling resistance to prevent any strain on the engine, so as not to affect either speed or fuel economy.
• Run silently and keep road noise to the minimum.
• Reduces rates of wear and increases resistance to the effects of sunlight, fuel, debris, and other hazards it might encounter.
• Perform in all conditions and on all kinds of terrain.
• Withstand heavy abuse such as hitting kerbs dividers etc.
• Provides a smooth & comfortable ride.

How do I buy the right tyres?

Start by asking questions to yourself: Am I satisfied with my existing tyres? Does it rain a lot where I live? Do I mostly do city driving or mostly highway driving or a little bit of both?

The more questions you ask, the easier it will be to pick a tyre type. Alternatively you can always take the advice from the experts at JK Tyre Steel Wheels. Always buy the right size tyre. All the tyre technology in the world won't help you if you buy the wrong size tyres. Appropriate tyre size for your car can be found in the vehicle's owner's manual.

What is the approximate life of my tyre?

The life of your tyre depends upon several factores, namely- the condition of your vehicle, the roads you drive on, driving habits etc. Try to consult the tips on driving habits recommended by JK Tyre.

What precautions can I take to prevent my tyres from wearing out prematurely?

Always make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. When inflating your tubes, always make sure that the gauge is accurate. Never bleed air from tyres/ tubes, which are hot after continuous running. Always make sure that the tyres are the correct pressure at regular intervals (optimally, every fortnight).

Always make sure that the tyres are inflated to the specified air pressure on the vehicle's manufacturer's recommendation. You will find this on the tyre pressure placard/ sticker, which is usually placed near the driver's right hand side door or please refer to the vehicle manual. And of course, you can always visit the State of the art IOC - JK Tyre air filling stations at the IOC Petrol Pumps.

Why must all the tyres on my car be the same kind?

Steel belted radials are the best type of tyre for your vehicle. As far as possible avoid mixing them with any other kind of tyre. And if you have to mix tyres, NEVER mix a radial tyre with a bias tyre on the same axie. We recommend, that you drive on JK Tyre - India's foremost range of steel belted radials in India.

What is the recommended inflation pressure for my tyres?

Underinflation is the greatest enemy of a tyre. It can result in tyre stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tyre can lose much of its air pressure and not appear to be flat. The inflation pressure mentioned on the tyre is the maximum operating pressure; it is not necessarily the right inflation for your vehicle. The inflation pressure of your tyres varies depending on the tyre size and the kind of car you drive. Check the inflation chart for the optimum inflation pressure of your tyres varies depending on the tyre size and the kind of car you drive. Check the inflation chart for the optimum inflation pressure for your car. Improper inflation can result in uneven tyre wear and even premature tyre/ tube failure. Always check inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Also check or adjust inflation every few weeks, before any long trip or if travelling with a heavy load. And don't forget to check the spare.



Air pressure chart?

The pressure to be maintained actually depends on the amount of load being carried. However we recommend the following:

Inflation pressure psi

How are tyres mounted on wheels?

Correctly mounting a tyre can increase their life span . Always inspect and clean wheel rims before mounting a new tyre . Ensure all beed seats are completely free of dirt and rust. Remove old weights . It is advisable to replace your wheel rim if a flange is bent.

Always lubricate the tyre beads before mounting , with a mild soap and water solution to prevent them from being damaged. Do not use grease or oil to lubricate the beads . Ensure that the beads are prpperly seated in the rims once the tyre has been fitted.

Why do my tyres need to be balanced?

Balancing of the wheel prevents uneven tyre wear a nd makes driving a pleasurable experience . Unbalanced tyres cause vibrations ,resulting in driver fatigue , premature tyre wear and unneccsary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Tyres should be balanced when they are mounted for this first time.or when they are re-mounted after repair . Infact many JK Tyre Steel Wheels outlets can provide expert diagnosis and repair . Ideally , balancing and alignment should be checked every 5,000-7,000 kms. However , if you are driving on bad roads , it is advisable to check the alignment and balance more often.

What is wheel alignment?

Proper alignment is neccesary for even tread wear and precise steering components are sound and when the tyre and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. Is your vehicle pulling to one side or shaking? Uneven front or rear tyre wear, or changes in your vehicle's handling or steering response (i.e) pulling to one side) can indicate misaligment . Many vehicles today are equipped with rear suspension that can be adjusted for alignment or a 'four-wheel' alignment depending on the symptoms you are experienceing. The moderate cost of having your wheels aligned can more than pay for itself in tyre mileage, performance and comfort. At the JK tyre Steel Wheels outlets , we provide expert alignment and suspension service in a comfortable enviroment.

Why shoul I rotate my tyres?

Each tyre on your car supports different amount of weight , this unequal weight distribution causes your tyres to wear ar different rates . Regular and proper tyre rotation promotes more uniform wear for all of the tyres on a vehicle .

All season tyres should be rotated in a 'modified X' pattern, meaning only the tyres being moved to the drive axle are crossed to the opposite side of the vehicle .The remaining two tyres are moved from the drive axle to the free rolling axle, remaining on the same side of the vehicle. This method rotation helps promote more even and uniform trained wear pattern for all four tyres. Tyres should generally be rotated every 5,000 kms as per the diagram below:

Can my driving habits affect the life of my tyre?

They certainly can. Here are some tips to increase the life of your tyre:

• Don't speed as excessive heat is generated when driving at high speeds. This heat increases the rate of tyre wear and reduces the durability of the tyre.
• Avoid fast turns on curves and around corners , fast starts and panic stops.
• Don't ride on the edge of the pavement or drive over curbs, potholes or other obstructions.

How can I check my tyres for my wear problems?

Learn to 'read' these early warning signs as this can prevent many wear problems that shorten tyre life by thousands of kilometers . JK Tyres even have tread wear indicator bars moulded into the tread . When the tread is worn down to where you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread, it is time to replace the tyres for signs of uneven wear. You may have regular tread wear if there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas . Consult your JK Tyre Steel Wheels Experts immediately.

Must I replace my present tyres with the same size tyres?

Never choose smaller size than those that came with the car . Tyres should always be replaced with the same size designation or approved options as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer or your expert at JK Tyre Steel Wheels.

Should I 'mix' tyre types on my car?

Tyres of different size designations , constructions and stages of wear may affect vehicle handling and stability. For best all-round performance , the same type of tyre should be used on all four -wheel positions . you can mix your presenr tyres with other size designations or constructions providing similar tyres are used in pairs on the same axle . Never mix radial on bias tyres on the same axle. You can get more specific information from your expert at JK Tyre Steel Wheels.

When buying just two new tyres, should they be put on the front or the rear?

When radial tyres are used with bias, on the same car, the radials must always be palced on the rear axle. When you select a pair of repalcement tyres in the same size and construction as those on the car, we recommended you put them on the front/rear axle . A single new tyre should be paired on the rear axle with the tyre having the most tread depth of the other three. For further queries you can get in touch with the experts fron JK Tyre Steel Wheels.

Do my new tyre require any special treatment ?

Your new tyres will probably feel different from the tyres that were repalced . Drive carefully as you become familiar with their performance and handling . Take special care when breaking and accelerating , cornering or when driving in rain, because these are the times when the differences will be most noticable .

What tyre safety guidelines should I follow to ensure optimal tyre performance?

An improperly maintained or damaged tyre can be explode without warning with tremendous force, resulting in injury or death. Here's how to avoid that from ever happening:

Unless you've been specially trained to mount or demount tyres from rims, don't try it .The tyre and rim diameter must also always match or else an explosion may result when the tyre inflated . Leave the job to professionals. If you don't know wat you are doing, you may not only ruin the tyre but also risk personal injury.

You should check each tyres pressure (including your spare) once each month and always before a long trip. Remember to always check when they are "cold" (that is , at least three hours after the vehicle has been stopped and before it has been driven on mile) . Purchase an accurate pressure gauge as its impossible ton tell how much air is in the tyre by looking at it. All tyres loose air over time. This is normal.

These are moulded into the tyre's sidewell , which should never be exceeded. Overloading builds up heat, which could lead to failure.

What tyre safety guidelines should I follow to ensure optimal tyre performance?

Obviously ,obstacles in the road should be safely avoided. If for external damage . but can't see it, have the tyre demounted and checked for internal damage by a trained professional.

Strictly do not buy them . As they may have sustained internal damage through hazards and abuse by a previous owner.

If you get stuck in mud or sand , don't spin your tyres to get out . Spinning even for a few seconds can build up a lot of heat and damage your tyres and even cause and explosion.

If you get stuck in mud or sand , don't spin your tyres to get out . Spinning even for a few seconds can build up a lot of heat and damage your tyres and even cause and explosion.

Practise Good Driving Habits

This will help keep your tyres in good condition . And also make you responsible citizen.

• Obey posted speed limits
• Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
• Avoid potholes and other objects on the road
• Get your car's pollution check done every quarter
• Ensure that the tyres are inflated to the right pressure
• Do not run over curbs or hit your tyres against the curbs while parking
• Do not overload your vehicle. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for the maximum
• Always use new tubes with new tyres
• Use only radial tubes in radial tyres
• Use valve caps to protect the valve mechanism from dust and to reduce air leakage. Replace damaged or leaking valve caps immediately

And lastly , if properly cared for , tyres can last a long time, depending upon the application.

JK Tyre Range