Tire Casings and Reinforcements

Two Types: Oblique Thread
and Woven Material

Oblique Thread: made with straight thread in different densities.

WHAT IS DENSITY? This is the total number of threads per decimeter or tpi (thread per inch)

Three Examples:

• 33 tpi (110 treads per dm) for entry level tires or for abusive
  situations like downhill racing or freeriding (big threads).
• 60 tpi (240 threads per dm) for the intermediate range (medium size threads).
• 127 tpi (420 threads per dm) for the top range (fine threads) .

The finer the thread, the higher the density. It is an important characteristic of a light, supple and fast tire. Higher density is not always better; it must consider strength, durability and real world situations to provide optimized performance.

Michelin Examples:
Road:
Pro3 Race, Pro3 Grip, Pro3 Light with 127 tpi (185 to 220 grams in 23-622 size)
Lithion with 60 tpi (230 grams in 23-622 size)
Speedium2, Erilium2, Orium and Dynamic in 33 tpi ( 265 to 380 grams)
MTB:
XC A/T, XC DRY2, XC Hard Terrain, Mountain Dry2 in 60 tpi
Country AT, Country Rock, Country Trail, Diabolo Cool & 2.20 in 33 tpi.

Woven Material: in various weaves for certain high end tires for anti-puncture reinforcements as in Pro2 Race and Grip, Krylion Carbon and 2.5 Mountain Xtrem.