THE BEADS:
Rigid beads, made with metal wire.
They are economical to produce.
In downhill/ and freeride tires, the rigid steel beads help hold the
bead/tire to the rim with lower pressure during extreme cornering or braking.
Foldable beads, invented and perfected by Michelin, are made of an aramid fiber (ex.
Kevlar
®). They are lighter and allow the tire to fold.
Kevlar® is a registered trademark of DuPont (aramid fiber manufactured by DuPont)
THE TREAD:
The principal components of the tread are:
• The Elastomer base in either natural or synthetic rubber SBR (styrene,
butadiene, rubber)
• The Reinforcing Ingredients:
• Carbon black
• Silica
• Various Other Ingredients:
• Dyes
• Anti-UV Protectants
• Anti-Ozone Protectants
• Accelerators (return in the vulcanization)
