After the plies are added, the outer lining and tire walls are fitted; then the whole assembly is placed in a machine that moulds and heats the tire to seal all the parts together making them airtight, this process is called vulcanizing. During this molding process the tread on the outer lining is formed as well as the markings on the tire walls.
There are many different types of tread for tires; some enable you to drive in wet conditions, snow and mud. The common tires we purchase are all round tires for every season on the roads, however there are more specialized tires for constant extreme conditions.
A tire that has the markings MS, M&S, M/S or M+S has past the safety guidelines as a snow or mud tire. These tires have larger grooves in the tread giving you increased traction when driving in these conditions. A tire that has a deep groove all the way round the center of the tire is designed for usage in very wet conditions, this groove allows for more water to escape under the tire. This prevents the car from hydroplaning across the water, which occurs when the contact point of the tire is no longer on the road and is purely supported by the water.
When we drive our vehicles the weight of the load on the tires tends to bend the tire slightly, allowing it to bulge at each side of the contact point (the place that the tire and ground meet). When we change our tires it is essential to check that the wheels are aligned correctly and the tire pressure is adequate. Poorly aligned wheels and under inflated tires can cause increased tire wear and also make the vehicle unsafe.
