【Case】Double Valve Core Off-road Tires And Steel Wheels

Off-road recreational vehicles serve as the core carriers for outdoor exploration and long-distance residence. They not only need to ensure stability during road travel but also have to withstand the challenges of complex off-road conditions such as deserts, gobi deserts, and mountainous areas. The adaptability, convenience, and durability of the tire rims directly determine the travel safety and residence experience of the recreational vehicle. Recently, our company received a custom request for a high-end off-road recreational vehicle. For the 335/80R20-20PR tires installed on its main off-road recreational vehicle, we customized a reversible dual-valve core off-road tire rim that can be used without a lock ring. We also clearly specified that it should not have a lock ring design, to be suitable for the complex usage scenarios of the off-road recreational vehicle chassis, and to solve the numerous pain points of traditional rims in off-road scenarios. The following is an in-depth introduction of this custom case and the core advantages of the product.

This custom request originated from the actual problems encountered by the customer during long-term off-road residence: Traditional off-road tire rims are mostly single-valve core designs and require lock rings to be used. In complex road conditions such as deserts and gobi deserts, the lock rings are prone to loosening and deformation due to sand and stone impacts and vibration, increasing the risk of tire blowouts. The single-valve core design requires tire removal or adjustment of the vehicle angle for tire pressure detection and inflation, which is cumbersome and greatly affects travel efficiency, especially in outdoor scenarios without professional tools. At the same time, the 335/80R20-20PR tires are heavy-duty off-road tires, and the bearing capacity and fitting accuracy of the rims are extremely high. Ordinary rims cannot meet their long-term heavy-duty off-road usage requirements. Based on the customer's needs, our company formed a special R&D team to design and develop it. The final delivered reversible dual-valve core rim without a lock ring perfectly meets the customer's needs and has received high recognition. 

The custom-made off-road tire steel rim for this occasion is specifically designed to fit the 335/80R20-20PR heavy-duty off-road tire. It adopts an integrated structure without a lock ring and is equipped with a reversible dual valve core configuration. This design aims to balance adaptability, convenience and durability. The core advantages of this design are mainly reflected in the following four aspects: 

First, precise fit, durable load-bearing, specially customized for 335/80R20-20PR tires. Based on the specifications and parameters of 335/80R20-20PR tires - section width of 335mm, flatness ratio of 80, wheel hub diameter of 20 inches, and load class of 20PR, we precisely calculate and process the inner diameter, outer diameter, and rim width of the steel ring to ensure a perfect fit between the steel ring and the tire, without any looseness or air leakage risks. The material is selected as high-strength off-road-specific steel, which undergoes high-temperature forging and precise machining processing, significantly enhancing the load-bearing capacity and anti-metal fatigue performance of the steel ring. It can easily adapt to the heavy-load requirements of off-road campers, even during long-term bumpy and heavy-load driving, it can effectively resist deformation and damage, avoiding safety hazards caused by insufficient steel ring strength. At the same time, its excellent heat dissipation performance can effectively conduct and dissipate the heat generated by the tire and the steel ring during high-speed driving or heavy-load operation, allowing the tire and braking system to maintain normal working temperatures, further enhancing driving safety. 

Second, the design without a lock ring is suitable for off-road scenarios and reduces the risk of failures. By discarding the traditional lock ring structure of steel rings and adopting an integrated molding process, the lock ring function is integrated into the design of the steel ring itself, eliminating the need for additional installation of a lock ring. This design not only simplifies the installation process of the steel ring but also completely solves the pain points of traditional lock rings in off-road scenarios - in sandy and rocky, and highly bumpy road conditions such as deserts and gobi, the lock ring structure can prevent sand and stones from entering the lock ring gaps, causing jamming, wear and tear, and also prevent the vibration from causing the lock ring to loosen and resulting in tire leakage or blowout problems, significantly improving the reliability of the steel ring in complex off-road conditions, and meeting the long-distance crossing needs of off-road campers. 

Thirdly, the dual valve cores can be flipped, which is convenient and efficient and suitable for outdoor scenarios. The steel ring is equipped with two flipable valve cores, which are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the steel ring. The valve cores adopt high-quality sealing structures and have both inflation and sealing functions. They can achieve one-way inflow and prevent gas leakage. At the same time, the external valve cap can effectively prevent dust and mud from invading, further enhancing the sealing performance. Different from the traditional single valve core design, this dual valve core can be flexibly flipped and switched according to the actual usage scenario. Whether it is tire pressure detection, inflation, or emergency maintenance in the outdoors, there is no need to remove the tire or adjust the vehicle angle. Just flipping the valve core can be operated quickly, greatly improving the convenience of outdoor use. Especially on off-road trips, if the tire pressure is abnormal, it can be quickly inflated to avoid delays in the journey due to cumbersome operations. At the same time, the dual valve core design also provides a dual guarantee function. Even if one valve core fails, the other can still be used normally, avoiding the problem of tire leakage caused by valve core damage. 

Fourth, it is adapted to the off-road caravan chassis, balancing stability and versatility. This custom steel ring is designed strictly according to the installation dimensions and load-bearing standards of the customer's off-road caravan chassis. It perfectly fits the installation interface of the caravan chassis. After installation, it forms a stable whole with the chassis and tires, without affecting the steering and braking performance of the caravan. It also ensures the stability for road travel and the passability for off-road travel. At the same time, during the design process, we also took into account versatility. Besides adapting to the 335/80R20-20PR tires customized in this project, with simple adjustments, it can also adapt to the same specification and type of heavy-duty off-road tires, meeting the customer's subsequent tire replacement needs and enhancing the practicality and cost-effectiveness of the product. 

In this customized case, we always focused on the customer's needs and, based on the usage scenarios of off-road recreational vehicles, targetedly addressed the pain points of traditional steel rims. Through precise fitting, lock-free design, reversible dual valve cores and other core designs, we created an off-road tire steel rim that is both durable, convenient and safe. After the product was delivered, it underwent multiple desert and mountain off-road tests by the customers. The performance was stable, and no problems such as loosening, air leakage or deformation occurred. The tire pressure detection and inflation operation were convenient, perfectly meeting the customers' needs for off-road travel and residence. 

In the future, our company will continue to focus on the customized research and development of off-road caravan accessories. By taking into account the individualized needs of different customers, we will optimize the product design and enhance the product quality. We will provide more superior, more suitable and more reliable customized solutions for off-road caravan enthusiasts, ensuring that every outdoor adventure is safe, smooth and reassuring.