Analysis of the Damage Propagation Process during Actual Operation of a Truck Tire—A Case Study

The increased scope of active and passive safety in motor vehicles and the enforcement of approval requirements for individual parts and assemblies affect the design and parameters of a car’s motion. The tire, which transmits forces and torques onto the road’s surface is a particularly crucial element in the vehicle. Its structure, type of mixture, and operating conditions determine the safety of vehicle motion. The three-axial force system loads the tires of the car and affects both the tread and sidewall, as well as the suspension and steering system. Taking into account the controllability and stability of movement, the tire is subjected to dynamic and thermal loads, as well as to wear and random damage. This negatively impacts on the joints of composite layers. The sudden loss of pressure in the tire can lead to serious accidents, especially when moving at high speeds, due to changes in the rolling radius. Tire damage on the steering axle most often results in a change to the trajectory of motion and may lead to the vehicle overturning and even tumbling. The purpose of the case study described in this article is to present in detail the damage propagation process that occurs during the actual use of a truck tire. The presented test methodology allows to assess whether damage to the tire is the result of a decompression process, or whether another, nonstandard loss of air in the tire occurred while driving. The result of the mechanoscopic examinations of the carcass and belt wire ends is an assessment of their geometry, which allows to determine the nature of the damage mechanism. This analysis forms the basis for further research on the degradation processes of joints between the composite layers of a tire and the methodology of recognizing sudden tire decompression.