Difference Between Radial Tire and Tubeless Tire

Radial Tire vs Tubeless Tire

Radial tire and tubeless tire are two innovations from tire manufacturers. We all know how important tires are for running automobiles smoothly on roads. Traditionally, tires were made with a provision of an inner tube that was filled with air to provide a soft cushioning that made vehicles running smoothly. This tube was placed inside the tire and then air was filled through a nozzle having a valve that kept the air pressure ideal to bear the weight of the vehicle. However, in case of a nail or any other sharp object piercing through tire and tube cause loss of air and punctured the tube. This tube then had to be repaired or replaced. Tire manufacturers came up with a novel idea of a tubeless tire to solve this problem. Radial tires are an innovation that places steel linings in a tire to make it better than ordinary butyl rubber tires. Most people are not aware of the differences between radial tires and tubeless tires that will be explained in this article.

People who get the air pressure checked in the tubes of their automobiles are spared from frequent puncturing of tubes as small sharp objects never get a chance to pierce through tire and tube if the air pressure is correct. But often people do not pay heed to this advice and forget to check air pressure regularly which causes them great inconvenience in the form of punctures.

What is tubeless tire?

Tubeless tires are designed in such a manner that the tire itself functions like a tube. The plies of the tire are similar whether it is a radial tire or a tubeless tire, but what makes a tubeless tire different is the presence of a inner lining layer that is made up of halogen butyl rubber such as chlorobutyl or bromobutyl rubber. This rubber has a special property of sealing any small puncture caused by a small nail or any other sharp object. This means that even if there is any mishap with a nail and a small puncture is caused by it, the tire seals the leakage itself by closing the leakage and the vehicle can cover distances up to 200 km without having to stop or getting the assistance of a mechanic to get the tire repaired.

What is radial tire?

Radial tires make use of belts made of steel that work as stabilizers directly under the tread. This system protects the treads made on the tire that is for better gripping of roads. Thus it ensures longer tread life, a smoother steering control and resistance to rolling. However, there are some who feel that radial tires do not provide a smooth run when the car is running at slow speeds on rough roads giving a feeling of harder ride.