Tire Labels

Like every other consumer product out there, tires require labels. Most of us have seen the large adhesive labels that come on new tires when we buy then, and certainly those are a significant type of tire label. In most cases, such labels include pricing information as well as tire specifications. Similarly, adhesive tire labels may be used by mechanics to mark tires they are working with. More importantly (at least from the manufacturer´s viewpoint) are the types of tire labels required by law and manufacturing procedures. In the United States, tire labels specifying tire and loading information are required for each vehicle, although they´re usually not actually affixed to a tire. Other tire labels follow a tire through every stage of manufacture, from the original “green” state all the way through final vulcanizing. As you might expect, these labels have to be tough, considering the heat, chemicals, and physical rigors that tires face during manufacture. Of course, these labels can also be used in gentler conditions -- for example, for inventory tracking in tire warehouses, and for tracking retreads. Whether the image is of a number or a barcode, a serious tire label should be made of a durable synthetic material, such as a synthetic, metallized polymer, and the image itself should be coated to protect it from caustic chemicals, abrasion, and especially extreme heat. It also helps if the adhesive has a high tack, and an affinity for rubber. Tire labels should also be applicable to either the tread or the sides of the tire, as necessary.