In part one of How a Continental Motorcycle tire is made? we could see how the materials were made in the first two steps of the fabrication process (the tread and the bead). Today, we will follow the steps to the finish product, and get ready to ride.
The fabrication of the carcass layers is done with weaving machines, similar to the ones that make fabric to make the tread weave. Rayon, nylon, polyester and other materials are used.
The layers are a textile fabric with the shape of a strip and covered with rubber. These strips are cut out to the tire size and the carcass is built.
The carcasses rest while we make the next component.
In this picture, we can see our radial tires with our latest technology “Zero Degree Belt”.
As we mentioned in previous posts, it’s a belt that has the shape of a spiral and wraps around the carcass. We start with the steel wires that will form this belt.
A machine pulls them tautly, covers them with rubber, and then rolls it onto the carcass that we had previously built.
The carcass is placed into a matrix/mold that will give its shape and will prepare it to receive the “Zero Degree Belt”.
In this picture, we can see with detail how the belt is added to the carcass. The machine disposes the steel wire covered with rubber around the tire while synchronizingrotations create a spiral.
And…finally, we have the carcass with the belt assembled!
The next step will be to build the sidewalls of the tires. These are the parts that provide stiffness to the tire.
We will assemble all the parts that make up a Continental tire: the carcass with the steel belt, over it the tread, the sidewall, the beads, and then, we will have a “green tire”, similar to a slick tire because it has no grooves.
As we can see, the future tire looks like a real tire. Now all we have left is putting the tire into the mold/matrix with the right temperature and curing time.
It will melt the tread and will make all the grooves and sidewall marks.
Finally, we will have the tire made, but it still won’t be ready to bring over to the warehouse.
The most important step is missing.
In the final process, once the tires are built and checked, some of them, randomly, are exposed to speed and strength tests in machines with rollers/platen.
Also, all the tires are visually inspected to detect any irregularity, defect, or deformity that would make the tire unacceptable for riding.
Before it goes to the warehouse, we will give them a little touch up called “deburring”, where we will get rid of small left overs attached from the mold/matrix.
Finally, we have the Continental motorcycle tire ready to be sent to the market!
We hope that from now on when you see your tires, you think for a moment about the long and complex process it needs to go through!
At Continental, our tires are always made with love and passion!
Until the next one!
