COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TYRE DATA - types of tyre

Commercial vehicle tyre types explained

The two basic types of truck tyre are cross-ply and radial. They both look much the same from the outside. Inside, their construction is very different and they have different characteristics.

The inner casing of all tyres is made from a fabric woven from either textile cords or steel cords. The angle these cords run at determines the type of tyre

CROSS-PLY TYRES

The cords run diagonally across the tread pattern

RADIAL TYRES

The cords run "radially" around the casing, across the tread and there is a belt of textile or steel cords running around the circumference of the tyre, between the radial cords and the tread.

LOW-PROFILE TYRES

Low-profile tyres have a section that is wider that it is high. This may allow a slightly higher payload because they are generally lighter in weight than standard tyres - and because of their smaller diameter they give a truck a lower centre of gravity. Almost all European truck manufacturers now offer low-profile tyres as an original equipment option for their vehicles.