Types of Construction Tyres - Boots for your machines that make demanding operations easier

Cross-ply tyres, also known as bias ply tyres, have been manufactured using stacks of carcass layers, whereby nylon cords are crossed diagonally over each other in the tread and the sidewalls, at an angle of 40 to 55 degrees. The cross-ply tyres' reputation of a strong, rigid sidewall, good bonding to the road, and better rolling and wearing resistance comes thanks to the layering of thick rubber piles that wrap the cross-diagonal nylons. However, this composition is also more sensitive to overheating, which is the single most significant drawback of cross plies.

As automobiles evolved, so did the manufacturing of tyres and a more flexible alternative to the conventional cross-ply tyre was developed – the radial tyre. The radial tyres are made up of rubber-bonded cords, which run one bead to the other across the circumference of the tyre. A steel casing is then placed on the chords, which is subsequently covered by the rubber tread. Radial tyres are known for their better resistance against heat and water, fuel efficiency and greater comfort, which, however, do not possess a sidewall as strong as that of a cross-ply.

Aside from the categorisation of construction tyres as cross-ply and radial, they can be further categorised into tube and tubeless tyres. The tube tyre is the most commonly used of the two, which encloses a high-pressure air-filled rubber tube. The tread is made of synthetic rubber, and reinforced steel wires make the beads inside the tyre, which support the rigid bonding of the tyre's wheel.

Tubeless tyres are soaring in popularity, even surpassing the most common tube tyre. As the name gives it away, the tubeless tyres, as opposed to tube tyres, do not enclose a rubber tube. Instead, the air is filled into the tyre itself. The composition of a tubeless tyre is the same as a tube tyre, apart from the "non-return valve", which fits directly onto the tyre for air filling. Tubeless tyres are much cooler and lighter than tube tyres; however, they may not be as appropriate for heavy use.

Construction tyres based on tread patterns cannot exactly be considered "different types"; however, they do play a key role in choosing the right tyre for your machinery. Biggest tyre manufacturers, including the likes of GRI Tires, manufacture construction tyres with a whole host of different tread patterns, as they can significantly affect the operation of the machinery and the efficiency of their intended role.