A tyre looks easy to construct and straightforward in its working functions. But looks are deceiving: it is a complex piece with numerous components and has many jobs to do, such as to give a quick response to steering action, provide grip on a variety of different road surfaces, withstand wear and tear and operate under all weather conditions.

A tyre can require more than 200 raw materials to construct and feature a complex architecture of steel belts, textile plies and computer-designed tread patterns. Here are some of the key components of a tyre:

Bead:
Considered the foundation of a tyre. The bead wires help to hold the tyre on the rim.

Inner liner:
A layer of special airtight rubber inside the tyre that gives the tyre shape and holds in air.

Body plies:
The layers of different materials that make up the body of a tyre. They provide reinforcement to withstand inflation pressure and provide a means to transmit force between tread and bead. They must be rigid enough to resist the stress and strains of cornering, yet supple enough to absorb the shocks from uneven surfaces.

Tyre belt:
A tyre belt is made of steel wire or textile fabric located between the body ply and tread. It acts as a reinforcement to reduce the impact from the road, gives the tyre stability and makes the tread pattern as flat as possible so that it makes more contact with the road.

It is especially important for front wheel-drive cars to have the tyres rotated periodically because the front tyres wear out faster than the rear ones.

Sidewall:
A protective rubber coating on the outer side of the tyre to protect it from shocks and damage. The sidewall gives it stiffness and ride characteristics. A taller, softer sidewall will absorb more bumps, while a shorter, stiffer sidewall will provide better cornering ability and sharper steering response.

Tread:
The patterned part of the tyre on top of the belts and in contact with the road. It consists of vulcanised rubber that is able to transmit traction, cornering and braking forces to the road surface, resist wear and abrasion, and withstand high temperatures.