Rugged To The Core: The Different Types Of Tyres An Armoured Vehicle Can Possess

Something that a consultation with any competent armoured vehicle manufacturer will yield is that tyres are a prime focus of protection. These are the final point of contact between the car and the road. So, it is obvious that any possible assailants might try to disable the vehicle through them. That is why it is important to know the types of run-flat tyres used by bulletproof car manufacturers today and which ones might suit your vehicle best.

What? You didn’t know that there are multiple types of run-flats? Well, you’re not alone, as this is a detail that many armoured car manufacturers in India simply gloss over. The truth is that there are multiple ways your car tyres can be strengthened, and each way should specifically fit your armouring requirements. You don’t want to ride around uncomfortably with a firm sidewall, nor do you want a spike strip ruin your day as your car takes in rounds from an AK-47.

• Reinforced Sidewall Tyres

This is one of the most commonly used run-flats in the business. It is so because it is the easiest to do and lasts for all seasons in all manner of roads. Essentially, the sidewalls of the tyres are reinforced with strong polymers such as Kevlar. Sometimes, a firmer rubber ring is also inserted to keep the car running even as the tyre degrades. Reinforced sidewalls allow for the car to drive at speeds of up to 50 Km/h in punctured conditions. The nice ride quality and minimal loss of traction is also the reason why these are mostly preferred by many armoured car manufacturers in India. The Pirelli P7 Centurato is a commonly used variant, with abundant supplies making it easier to switch tyres in most towns.

• Steel Belt Reinforced Tyres

Stepping up from the previous entry, these tyres are more about making the rim take the load rather than the tyres themselves. As damage punctures the tyres, a stainless steel belt takes on the weight of the vehicle and keeps on going for at least 80 Km before the tyres give out. Since the rubber of the tyre makes contact through a nylon coating, a majority of comfort is still retained even during a puncture. The steel rings make it very difficult to disable the vehicle through obstacles like spike strips. The Bridgestone Driveguard is a good example of such tyres. It also comes with a 100,000 Km warranty on purchase from your trusted bulletproof car manufacturer.

• Self-Sealing Tyres

These are the ones you’ll find on James Bond’s Aston Martin. Instead of air, the inside of the tyre is filled with a pressurized liquid that solidifies at lower pressures. When the situation cools down, the excess fluid can be chipped off and the whole arrangement works like a regular tyre again. Pretty cool, right? It can save the tyre from puncture up to one inch in depth without losing any traction. Still, these are not so popular in use since the fluid needs to be refilled every once a while and tyres like the Goodyear Armor Max Pro that use this technology are very difficult to get a hold of.

• Zero Pressure Tyres

So far, we have seen that the car tyre should always be inflated to function properly. However, what if there was no air to deflate at all? This is where the Zero Pressure tyres come in. These just have a polyamide coating over the steel belt. That’s it. This hard structure not only withstands ballistic impacts but also provides unmatched grip and performance. The only downside is that it cannot take on much weight, so its use is limited to high-performance cars like the BMW 550i and the Mercedes-Benz AMG S65, as many armoured vehicle manufacturers would tell you.

And that’s all folks! These are some of the most popular run-flat tyres in use today. Still, this is a field that sees a lot of research and development. I mean, this is how we got superglue, for crying out loud. Thus, there will always be more innovative methods that shall make their way to mainstream manufacturing in no time. Stick to the paperwork and follow JCBL Armouring Solutions for the latest updates and best deals on all vehicle armouring packages in India.

We are a leading armoured vehicle manufacturer in India with a team of over 25 years’ experience in engineering, designing, prototyping and manufacturing of armoured cars and vehicles for government, military and civilians.