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Do I Need A Discount Motorcycle Tire? - Motorcycle Tire Glossary

Listed below are common motorcycle tire terms.

Alignment
The checking and adjustment of caster, camber and toe angles in a vehicle's suspension to maintain specifications engineered by the vehicle manufacturer for optimum performance.

Aspect ratio
The relationship between the section height and section width of a tire expressed as a percentage of section width. If the section height is one half the section width, the aspect ratio is 50%.

Balance
The equal distribution of the mass of the tire and wheel assembly for smooth driving. Balance is achieved by fitting weights to the wheel rim to offset uneven weight distribution of the tire or wheel.

Bead
An inextensible hoop of high-tensile steel wires that anchors the plies and conforms to the rim seat to hold the tire onto the wheel rim.

Bead seat
The inner ledge portion of the wheel rim where the tire bead rests adjacent to the flange.

Belts
The plies of tire cords beneath the tread that determine the tire's diameter and stabilize the tread by resisting deformation from cornering, braking, and centrifugal forces.

Bias-ply
A type of tire construction utilizing plies that run diagonally from one bead to the other. One ply is set on a bias in one direction, and succeeding plies are set alternately in opposing directions crossing each other. Sometimes called a cross-ply tire.

Camber
The angle between the centerline of the tire and a vertical line as viewed from the front.

Camber thrust
A cornering force generated by the tire's camber.

Casing
The tire body, composed of plies that form the tire's structure and give it shape. Sometimes called the carcass.

Caster
The angle between the vehicle's steering axis and a vertical line, as viewed from the side.

Compounding
The combining of five basic ingredients: rubber, carbon black, plasticizers, curing materials, and ozone retardants to form the tread and other "rubber" components of a tire.

Cornering force
The lateral frictional force generated by a cornering tire, acting in opposition to the centrifugal force.

Crown
The center area of a tire's tread.

Deflection
The difference between a tire's unloaded or free radius and the loaded radius.

Directional stability
The tendency for a tire to roll in its steered direction rather than follow road contours.

Footprint
The area of the tire's tread that is in actual contact with the ground. (See Contact Patch)

Harmonic marking
Markings on wheels and tires that allow match mounting to cancel tire and wheel runout, minimizing vibration.