How tires are made. Production of rubber and rubber products: equipment and technology

Michelin has production sites V 17 countries of the world on 67 factories:

1. Brazil
2. Hungary
3. Germany
4. Spain
5. Italy
6. Canada
7. China
8. Colombia
9. Mexico
10. Poland
11. Russia
12. Romania
13. Serbia
14. United Kingdom
15. Thailand
16. France

In 170 countries, you can buy MICHELIN products, which are manufactured in accordance with the Group's uniform quality standards worldwide.

Michelin tires Russian production are sold not only in Russia.

Where are the MICHELIN tires sold in the shop.site online store made?

MICHELIN tires in our online shop are not sorted by place of production. It is difficult to say who is the manufacturer of a particular product in the catalog. It doesn't matter. All MICHELIN tires sold by official dealers, have equally good performance.

Does the quality of the tire depend on the place of production?

No, it doesn't. Now many world brands have their own factories in Russia. At the same time, the requirements for product quality remain unchanged regardless of the place of production.

Tires made in Poland or in Germany are of the same high quality. For all Michelin production sites there is a single technological process for each tire model. Therefore, the consumer will not be able to distinguish a tire produced, for example, in Poland from a similar model produced in a German plant.

Tests and tests conducted by independent organizations have confirmed that Russian or Asian-made MICHELIN products are identical to their Western counterparts in terms of performance.

Is the warranty valid for tires produced at the Michelin plant in Russia?

All MICHELIN-branded tires carry a 5-year warranty from the date of manufacture against defects in workmanship and materials.

MICHELIN tires purchased from the TYREPLUS tire center network are covered by another one-year warranty. It includes free repair or replacement of tires within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Spanish and Russian tires MICHELIN: test, differences

An automotive publication conducted a test comparing MICHELIN Energy Saver tires in size 180/60R15 made in Spain with a similar model in the same size made in Russia.

Tests have shown that both tires have the same characteristics: tread depth, handling (both on dry and wet asphalt surfaces), wear resistance, braking properties on dry and wet asphalt. The test pilots of the publication confirmed that they did not notice the difference between the two products presented.

How to determine the place of manufacture of a tire

You can find the date and country of manufacture of the tire on the sidewall of the tire. The date is indicated on the DOT marking. The last 4 digits in this marking are the production date. For example, 4513: where 45 is the week of production, 13 is the year of production.

Also, the country of manufacture is indicated on the tire in the form of the inscription "Made in".

Yaroslavl Tire Plant is one of the oldest tire enterprises in Russia. We will see how modern Cordiant car tires are produced and tested.

First in the world rubber tire was made by Robert William Thomson in 1846, but his invention was not developed in mass production. The idea of ​​a pneumatic tire arose only in 1887, when the Scotsman John Dunlop came up with the idea of ​​putting wide hoops made from a garden watering hose on the wheel of his 10-year-old son's tricycle and inflating them with air. And already in 1890, the young engineer Chald Kingston Weltch proposed to separate the chamber from the tire, insert wire rings into the edges of the tire and put it on the rim, which subsequently received a recess to the center. At the same time, the Englishman Bartlett and the Frenchman Didier invented quite acceptable methods for mounting and dismounting tires. All this determined the possibility of using a pneumatic tire on a car.

1. The main materials for the production of tires are rubber, which is made from natural and synthetic rubbers, and cord. Cord fabric can be made from metal threads (metal cord), polymeric and textile threads. The tire consists of carcass, breaker plies, tread, bead and side part.

2. In the photo you see the future cord.

3. Unvulcanized rubber is very sticky, so it is wound into bobbins with a pad of special material, which then allows it to be easily unwound.

4. Blanks in such reels are sent to the warehouse. The number plates are cord width measurements.

5. This is where the production of the tread begins. The rubber band is loaded into the machine, where it is extruded into the future tread.

6. For a quick visual assessment of tire size, the tread is color-coded.

7. The bead allows the tire to seal tightly on the wheel rim. For this, the side rings and the inner layer of viscous airtight (for tubeless tires) rubber are intended.

8. The wire from these coils goes to the machine, where it is covered with rubber.

9. On this machine, the rubberized wire is twisted to the required diameter and cut into circles.

10. It turns out such bead rings, which are the basis for the production of the entire bead.

11. The board is going here. Below you will find a video of this process.

12. The most interesting stage is tire assembly. This machine receives all the necessary workpieces.

13. Machine from the class "Glory to the robots!". The assembler only hangs the bead rings.

15. After the assembly of the tire, it is sent further along the conveyor ...

16. ... where control awaits her - checking weight and visual inspection for defects.

17. After that, the workpiece is sent to the most interesting workshop, where vulcanization takes place. But first, let's look at the mold preparation process.

18. The mold itself consists of several segments that form the tread pattern, lettering and all the lines on the sidewalls. And most importantly - the antennae on the new tires!

19. It turns out that the antennae are channels for the removal of air during vulcanization. And when used, they get clogged first. After that, the mold must be cleaned.

20. Hot process - hot shop!

21. The vulcanization process takes place on these machines.

22. The tire blank is fed inward. Outside, it is compressed by a mold, and a bubble is inflated inside so that the tire does not fall into itself. At the same time, hot steam is supplied under high pressure.

23. The tire is in place and the mold will now come down from above.

24. This is a non-working machine, but the same inflating bubbles are visible here.

25. It's very hot here, and some kind of special haze.

26. If you look inside the vulcanizing machine, you can see the industrial beauty in its original form.

29. After vulcanization, the finished tire is again inspected. At this place, special workers carry out a visual inspection.

32. The plant is constantly in the process of manufacturing new compounds, compounds and tread patterns for new tires. All this is tested on special machines.

33. Disassembled machine for testing. The flywheel is rotated by an electric motor, and the tire is already spinning from it.

34. A new machine that allows you to test six tires at the same time in different weather conditions.

35. In this hangar, aircraft tires are tested for takeoffs and landings.

36. Another test cycle during takeoff.

37. But you can’t just look at the production of aircraft tires - for this you need permission from the FSB and other bureaucratic troubles.

Taken from russo in Tire production

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Tire is the only part of the car that is in contact with the road. The area of ​​​​this contact (contact patch) is approximately equal to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bone human palm. Thus, a car on the road is held by only four palms! Therefore, tires are without a doubt a very important element of driving safety.

In addition to the very important task of providing grip and handling of the car, the tire must also have comfort, wear resistance, reduce fuel consumption and complement appearance car. The need to combine these different characteristics makes tire design a much more complex process than it might seem at first glance. And tire manufacturing involves just as much research and technology as a mobile phone.

Conventionally, the stages that a tire goes through before it hits the store shelves can be divided into 3 stages:

Market analysis

Simulation and model testing

Mass production

Market analysis

When researching the market, Michelin pays great attention to the demands of drivers, not only current but also possible future tire requirements. The development of the automotive market is also monitored.

Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of using tires in specific conditions, which include not only driving features, but also climatic conditions, road specifics and surface quality.

All this allows us to fully satisfy the needs of the most demanding customers.

Simulation and model testing

Based on the data obtained, painstaking work begins on the creation of a future tire. Not only chemists and designers take part in this process, but also many other specialists, for example, industrial designers.

The success of the future tire depends on the joint work of various specialists. A high-quality and reliable tire is not so much a technological secret, but a real art, which consists in right choice, dosage and the relationship of the various tire components.

Creating a rubber compound

Its development, preparation and production is akin to creating a culinary masterpiece. This is the most secret part of the tire, and although about 20 main components are widely and well known, it is not possible to find out more about the rubber compound. After all, the secret lies not only in the components of the mixture, but in their competent combination and balance, which will endow the tire with its specific functions.

The main elements of the rubber compound of a tire:

Rubber.There are two types - natural and synthetic, added to the rubber compound in various proportions, depending on the purpose of the tire, is its basis. Natural rubber is the dried sap of the hevea tree, also found in other types of plants, such as dandelions, but due to the complexity of the manufacturing process, it is not made from the latter.

Synthetic rubber is a product made from petroleum. Currently, several dozen different synthetic rubbers are used, each of which has its own characteristics. characteristics affecting specific tire characteristics. The latest generations of synthetic rubbers are very close in properties to natural, but the tire industry still cannot refuse the latter.

Technical carbon.A significant part of the rubber compound consists of industrial carbon black (carbon black), a filler offered in various options and giving the tire its specific black color. Carbon black was first used in tires at the beginning of the 20th century, until that time tires had a pale yellow color (the color of natural rubber). The main purpose of carbon black is the creation of reliable molecular compounds to give the rubber compound special strength and wear resistance.

Silicon dioxide (silica).This component at one time was involved in the rubber compound as a replacement for carbon black. In the process of testing the new composition, it was found that silicon dioxide cannot displace soot from the rubber compound, since it does not provide the same high rubber strength. However, the new component improved wet grip and reduced rolling resistance. As a result, these two elements are now used together in the tire, while each of them endows the tire with its best qualities.

Sulfur.It is one of the components involved in vulcanization. This process transforms the ductile raw rubber compound into a flexible and durable rubber.

When creating a tire, work is carried out not only on the characteristics of the tire, but also on the aesthetic side, a large number of different tread pattern designs are considered. The use of modeling methods allows you to choose the pattern that best complements the existing rubber compound and internal structure future tire. According to the results of computer simulation, the best samples are put into production and are subjected to real tests.

Every year, Michelin specialists conduct numerous tests, during which over 1.6 billion km are driven. That's about 40,000 trips around the globe. In the process of testing, the last features of the future tire are being finalized. At the moment when all tests are carried out, and the results correspond to the initial task, the tire is launched into mass production.

Production

The initial stage of launching any tire into mass production is the preparation of production sites.

Michelin owns . And the main task of this stage is to configure each manufacturing process so that the tire meets not only the original terms of reference, but in all respects did not differ from a similar tire produced in any other country.

In the subsequent process mass production Every MICHELIN tire is manufactured by highly trained professionals using various kinds manual and automatic equipment. When needed, Michelin designs own equipment that meets the needs of production.

The main stages of tire production:

Preparation of rubber compounds. As mentioned above, the formulation of each rubber compound is the basis for endowing the tire with the necessary functions.

Creation of bus components. At this stage, a tread band is formed from the resulting rubber, and the “skeleton” of the tire is also created - a carcass and a breaker. The first is made from layers of rubberized textile threads, and the second is made from rubberized high-strength metal cord. A tire bead is also being prepared, with which the tire is attached to the rim of the disc. Its main part is a bead ring made of many coils of wire.

Assembly. On a special assembly drum, carcass and breaker layers, bead rings, and a tread with sidewalls are successively superimposed. Then all these parts of the tire are connected into a single whole - the tire blank.

Curing. The prepared workpiece is placed in the mold of the vulcanizer. Steam is injected into the tire under high pressure, and the outer surface of the mold is heated. Under pressure, a relief pattern is drawn along the sidewalls and the tread. A chemical reaction (vulcanization) takes place, which gives the rubber elasticity and strength.

A particularly important element of production is quality control. It begins with a quality check of each tire element at the stage of purchase, is present at each stage of production and ends with a multi-level audit of the finished product..

The key to the quality of Michelin products is also the presence of a manufacturing guarantee - 5 years from the date of production. The manufacturer's warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials.

Car tires are an integral part of a car. And its quality during manufacture is very important not only for the driver of the car, but also for its manufacturer, because the reputation of the production itself depends on it. At the same time, it should be noted that today there are at least three varieties car tires. These are summer, winter tires and, of course, demi-season. All of them are used for the same transport, but they have a slightly different appearance and, to some extent, even a slightly different technological process.

The most famous manufacturers

To date, the most famous tire manufacturers in the world are such manufacturers as Michelin (the brands Kleber, BFGoodrich also belong to it), Bridgestone (the brands Lassa, Firestone, Winterforce, Fuzion also belong to it) and the Finnish Nokian. Also worth noting are GoodYear, Continental, Pirelli, Hankook, Yokohama, Cooper, Kumho, Toyo and many others.

Raw materials for manufacturing

To date, the number of tire manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, is simply amazing, and sometimes the end customer is somewhat confused in choosing the right shoes for his warhorse. But still, if you look at the tire production process, you can see that no matter which manufacturer produces these tires for us, the same material is used for the production of this tire. And it's rubber. For its production, in most cases, natural or synthetic rubber is used, as well as autocord.

It should be noted that in the production of tires in without fail you need to use only high-quality rubber, since it is the quality of rubber for tires that will determine the stability of the car under a wide variety of weather conditions, the quality of adhesion of tires to the road surface, regardless of its condition, and much more.

Tire technology

Direct production of tires begins with the manufacture of a special rubber compound, which will later be used to make tires for cars. The composition of this rubber compound, depending on the technology of its production, can include up to a dozen different chemicals. In addition, some other components can also be added to the rubber compound, which is produced specifically for car tires, in particular, various dyes and much more. In some cases, these components are delivered to production ready for use. It is this rubber compound that will be used for the manufacture of various blanks. But before making blanks, it passes special technology mixing the constituent parts, after which it is cooled and cut into special sheets, which will subsequently turn into a wide variety of car tire parts. The blanks that are formed from the rubber compound are the most diverse parts of the future tire - these are its side parts, and treads, and much more. It is worth noting that those parts that the tires will subsequently come into contact with the road are made last using the vulcanization method. At the same time, it is this process that makes it possible to obtain exactly that unique tread pattern, which we very often see on car wheels. The manufacture of winter tires deserves special attention, since it is during this period that the most unforeseen situations on the roads occur. Also, during the production of blanks, the size of the future tire must be taken into account, this is due to the fact that different car manufacturers have different tire sizes.

After a wide variety of tire parts have been made from the rubber compound, it is sent to the machine, where the tire is directly assembled for the car. At the same time, it should be noted that the entire tire manufacturing process is automated, and human participation is reduced only to monitoring the correct operation of those installations that are involved in production.

Video about how tires are made at the Michelin factory:

A very important process in the manufacture of tires for automobiles is the process of monitoring the quality of products. If in the process of such control even the most insignificant defects of a particular tire were found, it is necessarily returned for processing and in no case can it get into retail chains shops for motorists. It must be said that during this check of car tires, not only visual inspection, but also some other methods are used for control. In particular, in some cases, X-rays can also be used. In addition, there are special machines that carry out all the necessary tests that allow you to determine how a particular type of tire meets quality standards.

Tires play an important role in the handling and safety of a car, but as they age, they lose their quality and must be replaced with new ones. Therefore, every driver should be able to determine the age of tires and replace them in a timely manner. About why it is necessary to change old tires, how to determine their age and replacement time, read in this article.

Tire Life Standards

Tires are one of the few car components that not only undergoes wear and tear during operation, but is also subject to natural aging. Therefore, tires are replaced not only due to their critical wear or damage, but also when the service life exceeds the allowable ones. Too old tires lose their qualities, elasticity and strength, and therefore become too dangerous for the car.

Today in Russia there is a contradictory situation with the service life of tires. On the one hand, the so-called warranty period of service (service life) of automobile tires is established by law in our country, equal to 5 years from the date of their production. During this period, the tire must provide the declared performance characteristics, while the manufacturer is responsible for his product during the entire period of operation. The term of 5 years is established by two standards - GOST 4754-97 and 5513-97.

On the other hand, in Western countries there are no such laws, and car tire manufacturers claim that the life of their products reaches 10 years. At the same time, there are no legislative acts in the world and in Russia that would oblige drivers and vehicle owners to make a mandatory replacement of tires upon the expiration of the warranty period. Although the Russian traffic rules have a rule on the residual tread height, and, as practice shows, tire wear usually occurs faster than their service life expires.

There is also such a thing as the shelf life of car tires, however Russian legislation does not set a time limit. Therefore, manufacturers and sellers usually rely on the warranty period, and say that the tire, subject to right conditions can lie for 5 years, and after that it can be used like new. However, in a number of countries in Europe and Asia, the maximum shelf life is 3 years, and after this period the tire can no longer be considered new.

So, how long can you use the tires installed on the car? Five, ten years or more? After all, all these figures are recommended, but no one obliges the driver to replace tires, even after fifteen years, the main thing is that they are not worn out. However, manufacturers themselves recommend replacing tires at the age of 10 years, and in most cases, tires become unusable after 6-8 years of operation.

What are the indicated periods of operation and storage of car tires related to? It's all about the rubber itself, from which tires are made - this material, with all its advantages, is subject to natural aging, which leads to a loss of basic qualities. As a result of aging, rubber can lose elasticity and strength, microscopic damage appears in it, eventually turning into noticeable cracks, etc.

Tire aging is primarily a chemical process. Under the influence of light, temperature differences, gases contained in the air, oils and other substances, the elastomer molecules that make up rubber are destroyed, and the bonds between these molecules are also destroyed - all this leads to a loss of elasticity and strength of rubber. As a result of rubber aging, tires resist wear worse, they literally crumble and can no longer provide the necessary performance characteristics.

It is because of the aging processes of rubber that manufacturers and domestic GOST establish a warranty period for the operation of tires. domestic standard establishes the period after which the aging of rubber does not yet have a negative effect, and tire manufacturers set the actual service life at which aging is already noticeable. Therefore, you should be very careful with tires over 6-8 years old, and tires that have celebrated their 10-year "anniversary" must be changed without fail.

To replace a tire, you need to determine its age - this is quite simple.

Ways to check the age of tires

On car tires, as well as on any other product, the date of production must be indicated - it is by this date that one can judge the age of the tires bought or installed on the car. To date, the marking of the date of manufacture of tires is made according to the standard approved in 2000 by the US Department of Transportation (U.S. Department Of Transportation) standard.

On any tire there is an oval-pressure, in front of which is the abbreviation DOT and an alphanumeric index. Numbers and letters are also pressed into the oval - they are the ones that indicate the date of production of the tire. More precisely, the date is encrypted in the last four digits, which mean the following:

• The first two digits are the week of the year;
• The last two digits are the year.

So, if the last four digits in the crimping oval are 4908, then the tire was produced on the 48th week of 2008. By Russian standards, such a tire has already exhausted its resource, and by world standards it should already be replaced.

However, on tires you can find other designations of the time of production. In particular, in the oval-pressure there may be not four, but three numbers, and there is also a small triangle - this means that this tire was produced in the period from 1990 to 2000. It is clear that now such tires can no longer be used, even if they were in storage or installed on a car that has stood in the garage for many years.

Thus, one glance is enough to determine the age of a tire. However, not all car owners know this, which is used by dishonest sellers who pass off old tires as new ones. Therefore, when buying rubber, you need to be careful and be sure to check the production date.

Determining when to change tires

When is it time to change tires? There are several cases when it is necessary to buy new tires:

• Age 10 years or more - even if this tire looks good on the outside, it has no visible damage and its wear is low, it should be removed and sent for recycling;
• The age of the tire is 6-8 years, while its wear is approaching critical;
• Critical or uneven wear, large punctures and tears, regardless of the age of the tire.

As practice shows, tires, especially in Russia with its road features, rarely "survive" to the age of ten. Therefore, tires are most often replaced due to wear or damage. However, in our country, not quite new tires often go on sale, so every driver should be able to determine their age - only in this case you can protect yourself and your car.

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