How is the carcass of a tyre similar to the foundation of your house?
When you build a house you make sure the foundations are strong and suitable for the construction that is going on top.
It’s the same with tyres. You need a strong foundation for the construction that goes on top.
You might be surprised to learn that while tread design is critical, it’s the carcass construction that accounts for up to 70% of a tyres performance.
It’s the strength of the carcass (what you can’t see under the tread) that keeps the tyre firmly and squarely on the road and running balanced and true.
Cooper has developed three different carcass constructions to match your specific requirements; R-Tech Engineering, High-Tensile Construction and Armor-Tek3 Technology.
So let’s take a closer look at the carcass constructions that represent the latest generation in tyre technology.
What represents the latest technology carcass construction for SUV/Car tyres?
Today’s SUVs have a higher centre of gravity, allowing you to have a better view of the road. Cooper Tires has specially developed R-Tech (Response Technology) to meet the requirements of today's high riding SUVs.
R-Tech Engineering works in 2 ways:
| Extended Bead Filler The bead filler which runs along the inside of the tyre is extended to further reinforce the sidewall and strengthen the carcass construction. This improves lateral stability for safer handling, enabling a faster steering response and more control in emergency maneuvers such as sudden lane changes. |
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| Variable Density Nylon A nylon overlay of varying thickness, wraps around the steel belt of the tyre. This nylon overlay works to offset the stiffness of the bead filler. This means you will get a smoother, safer, more comfortable ride. |
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What represents the latest technology carcass construction for 4WD tyres?
4WD tyres rotate at different speeds and different pressures causing significant friction, generating heat. This is a volatile environment and tyres are under huge pressure, not to mention the challenge of the terrain. Why wouldn’t you choose tyres that are built to withstand extreme situations?
Depending on how adventurous you are, Cooper has developed 2 kinds of carcass constructions to meet the needs of your off-road adventures:
- High-tensile construction is perfect for all-terrain support and protection, for weekend adventurers and travelers.
- Armor-Tek3 carcass construction provides extra protection against tears and punctures, for more adventurous off-roaders.
High-Tensile Construction:
High-Tensile Construction is made up of 2 main components:
Underneath the tread and in the sidewall of Cooper 4WD tyres are High-Tensile cords (or plies). This gives you 33% more strength than standard tensile cords. This means less risk of damage and a higher load carrying capacity.
In the Steel Belts under the tread, you’ll also find Super-tensile steel belts. This gives you 15% more strength than commonly used high-tensile steel belts, adding greater impact strength and better puncture resistance.
Armor-Tek3 Technology:
Armor-Tek3 works in 2 ways:
- Traditional 2-ply tyres have 2 plies that run at a 90o angle to the bead. Cooper Tires have developed a third ply to run at an 8o angle on top of the other 2. This reduces gaps in the rubber to give you 2.5 times more tears and puncture resistance, protecting the sidewall of the tyre for peace of mind.
As you can see in the video above, the reinforced rip-stop fabric resists damage. It’s better quality because it’s woven to cross at regular intervals, just like the plies in Armor-Tek3 technology. - Armor-Tek3 offers greater stability, traction and steering response. In the video, you see how Amor-Tek3 helps the vehicle return more rapidly to centre-steering compared to other vehicles fitted with another common 4WD brand.
See Armor-Tek3 in action
Not only does High-Tensile Construction provide maximum strength and protection, you also benefit from improved fuel economy thanks to the reduced weight and rolling resistance from the construction. While with Armor-Tek3 you are covered with extra protection off-road for peace of mind.
You may also be interested to learn about:
Tread, its design and depth.
Compound, the materials used to build a tyre.