CapriRacer wrote:
FastEagle wrote:
I do a lot of research. But just for you I went and downloaded the newest information for belts on popular tires. Michelin has the newest data book - May 2011 - and they still have the third belt on their commercial grade 16” truck tires.......
First, commercial grade LT tires aren't the popular tires.
The popular LT's have 2 polyester body plies and 2 steel belts - and may have a nylon cap ply (or 2). A nylon cap ply is a circumferential ply that restricts the growth of the tire at high speeds. Inessence it raises the speed rating of a tire.
All steel - that is, tires with steel body plies and commonly referred to as commercial grade - also have 2 steel belts, plus sometimes a third protector belt. This third belt is not like the nylon cap ply. That steel belt is at a lesser angle to the "working" belts and provides a layer of protection against penetrating objects. The less damage to steel belts, the less likely they are to fail - and this is more true for tires with higher loadings.
As tire customers we have to rely on advertising information. Here is how a major retailer describes - in part - a Michelin tire.
“The tire’s internal structure includes twin steel belts (three steel belts in Load Range D and Load Range E sizes) to provide the strength and durability needed to handle heavy loads.” (The Tire Rack).
Here is a Michelin reference that shows the tires basic construction. Sure looks like a third steel belt to me.
Michelin RefPage 19 of the current Michelin tire data book describes the LXT A/S tire as a commercial all-season tire with three steel belts. The reference below also describes it as having three steel belts.
Michelin RefFastEagle
