KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND PRODUCTION
PROGRAMME: AUTOMOTIVE AND POWER ENGINEERING

AUTO TRACTOR TECHNOLOGY II

ASSIGNMENT ONE

NAME REGISTRATION NUMBER

KAGODA BENJAMIN 20/U/APD/7469/PD

DAAKI ALEX 20/U/APD/12494/GV

KATO JEREMIAH 20/U/APD/7475/PD

NAMUKWAYA JOAN KISAKYE 20/U/APE/7509/PE

KASIBANTE ABRAHAM 20/U/APD/12537/GV

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 QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the four functions of vehicle tires.

i. Supporting the Vehicle's Weight

Tires are the primary point of contact between the vehicle and the road surface. They bear the
weight of the entire vehicle, including passengers and cargo. The tire's ability to support this weight
is crucial for vehicle stability and safety.
ii. Providing Traction
Traction is the grip or adhesion between the tire and the road surface. Tires must provide adequate
traction to enable the vehicle to accelerate, decelerate, and make turns safely. Traction is
particularly important in adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, or ice.
iii. Absorbing and Dampening Shock
Tires act as a cushion between the vehicle and the road, absorbing and dampening shocks and
vibrations caused by irregularities in the road surface. This function enhances ride comfort and
helps protect the vehicle's suspension components.
iv. Transmitting Steering and Braking Forces
Tires play a crucial role in transmitting the driver's inputs to the vehicle. When the driver turns the
steering wheel or applies the brakes, the tires translate these actions into actual vehicle movements.
Therefore, the responsiveness and grip of the tires are critical for safe and precise steering and
braking.

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 2. Draw a well labeled diagram of a tire and talk about all the parts of a tire.

i. Tread
The outermost part of the tire that makes contact with the road surface. The tread pattern varies
and is designed to provide traction, channel water away from the tire, and enhance grip in different
driving conditions.
ii. Sidewall
The vertical portion of the tire that connects the tread to the bead. The sidewall contains important
information such as tire size, load rating, and speed rating. It also provides some protection against
impacts with curbs or obstacles.

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 iii. Bead
The innermost part of the tire, made of strong steel wires encased in rubber. The bead sits on the
wheel's rim, creating an airtight seal and ensuring the tire remains firmly attached to the wheel.
iv. Carcass or Body Ply
Layers of fabric, usually made of polyester, nylon, or steel, that give the tire its structural strength
and flexibility. These layers are embedded in rubber and provide stability and shape to the tire.
v. Belts or Belt Plies
Layers of steel or other reinforcing material, located just beneath the tread. They provide additional
strength and help maintain the tire's shape, contributing to stability and tread wear.
vi. Inner Liner
The innermost layer of the tire, which acts as a barrier to hold air and maintain proper inflation. It
helps prevent air from escaping and moisture from entering the tire.
vii. Shoulder
The area where the tread meets the sidewall. The shoulder design influences how the tire handles
corners and transitions between different road surfaces.
viii. Tire Information
This includes essential details printed on the sidewall, such as tire size, load index, speed rating,
and other specifications. This information is essential when selecting and maintaining tires for
your vehicle.

3. How much does tire pressure change with a change in temperature?

Tire pressure changes with change in temperature in accordance with ideal gas laws. As
temperature of the tire increases, the air molecules in the tire gain kinetic energy and start
oscillating with increased energy as a result the space they occupy increases leading to increasing
in temperature. When the temperature reduces, the air temperature of the tires reduces due to
reduce kinetic energy as a result the air molecules contained in the tire vibrate with reduced energy
leading to less space occupied by them which results in a drop in internal pressure. For instance,
as temperature increases by 10°C, the pressure increases by 1Psi.

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4. Explain why it is not recommended to let air out of a hot tire?

It is not recommended to let air out of a hot tire, because as the tire heats up during driving, the
inside air also heats up and expands in accordance with ideal gas laws.
When you release air from a hot tire, you are reducing the tire pressure which is still at an expanded
state due to the increased temperature. This results in under inflation when it cools because the tire
middle layer cools faster than the outer layers as a result of the air molecules in the middle escaping
faster than the ones in the sides leading to under inflated tires on cooling. This under inflated tires
compromised driving, handling, reduce fuel efficiency and increase the rate of uneven wear on a
tire.

5. If you look on the sidewall of a tire, there are so many writings in numbers and letters or even
words. Can you please explain all the letters, numbers or words on the sidewall of a tire?

For example a tire with sidewall code P197/40 R15 90V DOT xxx xxx 3210
Letter or number What it represents
P passenger tire.
197 the tire width in millimeters.
40 the tire profile or aspect ratio
R the tire construction that is shows that the tire is radial
15 the wheel diameter in inches.
90 the load index or the maximum weight each tire can support
when inflated properly.
V speed rating of the car that means the tire can handle upto
149miles per hour.
M+S severe conditions that is the car can handle both mud and
snow conditions.
3210 That the tire was made in the 32th week of 2010.

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6. With drawings, discuss the effects of under or over inflation of a tire on automobiles.

UnderInflation effects:
When the tire pressure is low, its surface area that touches the road increases. The increased
footprint, if left unattended will increase friction, which can cause overheating. Overheating in
turn can lead to premature wear, tread separation, and eventually a blowout. Depending on the
severity of the blow out, it can lead to loss of control of the vehicle.
The change in footprint can also lead to longer braking distances and an increase in fuel
consumption as more energy is needed to make the tire roll.
It can also lead to uneven wear thereby decreasing the life of your tires as the outer edges wear out
faster and more unevenly than the centre leading to premature tire replacement.

Overinflation effects:
The sidewall and tread become harder than normal and contact patch of the tire on the road shrink
which make the handling harsh as a result making driving uncomfortable.
This change in footprint can reduce in traction and performance giving a bouncy ride and affecting
the handling of the car.
It can also uneven wear thereby decreasing the life of your tires as the centre unevenly and quickly
than the outer edges which leads to premature tire replacement.

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7. Factors that should be considered when purchasing tires.
Tire width
The width of your tire is the first 3 digits of your tire label. For example, a P197/40/R15V the tire
would 197 millimeters wide. Tire width is important for grip a wider tire has more contact with
the road, so it’s better on wet roads. A narrower tire is less useful for providing grip, but the smaller
contact area makes less noise while driving.
Tire profile
It is thickness of the sidewall, as a percentage of your tire’s width for example for P197/40/R15V,
your tire profile is 40. A high profile above 50 provides more protection, for more a comfortable
drive and longer lasting wheels. A low profile tire is more prone to damage, but the narrower
sidewalls are considered better looking and provide better steering performance.
Tire size
Tires that do not fit properly can cause additional stress on the wheel or even come off while
driving. The tire size is represented by the two digits of your tires label that comes after the letter
“R” for example on a P197/40/R15V, the tire size is 15 inches.
Speed Rating
Your speed rating is the last letter on your tire label, for example if your tire label is P197/40/R15V,
then V is the speed rating. In general, a higher speed rating means a better grip and stopping power
but also less durable treads.
Tread Pattern
There are 3 possible tire tread patterns for instance; symmetrical. directional and asymmetrical.
Symmetrical is the most common tire narrow treads arranged in a wave pattern. These tires are
best for a quiet performance, but perform less in the rain as the design is not suited for water
dispersion.
Directional treads are best for rain performance. Treads in a wide V- shaped designed to rotate in
only one direction. Because of the wider design, these tires are better at dispersing water and road
grip. However, this design also makes them much noise as compared to symmetrical tires which
can be irritating while driving.
Asymmetrical tread can help with both concerns these treads are designed with the held the surface
suited for min and other half for noise reduction. They tend to be more expensive.

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Tire Age
The manufacturing date can be found in the last 4 digits of the D.O.T code on the sidewall for
example “3210” would mean the tire was manufactured in the 32th week of 2010.

8. How is the proper tire inflation determined?

The proper tire inflation is determined by the manufacturer and can usually be found in the owner’s
manual, or a stick insider the driver’s door or sometimes on the sidewall of the tire itself. It is
typically expressed as pounds per square inch(PSI) and is specific to the make and model of the
vehicle.

9. Explain the three problems with tires.

Tire wear and Tread depth

Overtime, tears wear down due to friction with the road surface. This wear leads to reduced tread
depth, making it harder for the tire to grip the road properly. Insufficient tread depth can lead to
reduced traction especially in wet conditions increasing the risk of accidents.
Tire punctures and flats
Tires are vulnerable to punctures from sharp objects like nails or glass on the road, when a tire gets
punctured it can lose air pressure and go flat.
Tire Alignment and Balancing issues
Improper alignment or balancing of tires can lead to uneven tire wear. Misaligned wheels can
cause tire to wear out prematurely, reducing their life span.
Handling and Comfort
Properly inflated tires ensure optimal handling and a comfortable ride. Over inflated tires can make
the ride harsh and reduces road grip while under inflated ones can result in imprecise steering and
sluggish repsonse to driver’s inputs.
Tire longevity
Maintaining the correct tire pressure helps extend the life of your tires. When tires are properly
inflated, they wear evenly, which means they last longer.

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Reduced Heat build up
Under inflated tires generate more heat due to increased flexing of the sidewalls. This heat build
up can lead to tire damage including blow outs especially during long drives or at high speeds.

10. Why is it important to have correct tire pressure? Discuss.

Safety
Proper tire pressure is essential for safe driving. Under inflated tires can lead to poor handling,
reduced traction and longer braking distances. This increases the risk of accidents especially in
emergency situations.

Fuel Efficiency
Incorrect tire pressure can significantly effect fuel efficiency. Under inflated tire creates more
rolling resistance, causing the engine to work hand and consume more fuel. This not only cost you
more at the pump but also contributes to environmental pollution.

Tire Wear
Low tire pressure can cause uneven wear on the tire’s surface. The edges of the tire may wear
faster that the centre or vice versa. This reduces the overall lifespan of the time.

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