ISO 17464:2016

Overview

ISO 17464:2016 - "Pneumatic tubes for automotive vehicles - Technical requirements and test methods" specifies technical requirements, sampling and laboratory test procedures for inner tubes used in pneumatic tyres for automotive vehicles. The standard defines material classes, dimensional and uniformity criteria, mechanical and ageing performance limits, air‑tightness checks, and marking and traceability requirements. It references established test methods (e.g., ISO 37, ISO 188) to ensure consistent quality and safety of tubes across the automotive supply chain.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & materials

  • Covers tubes manufactured from suitable rubber compounds and vulcanized into endless annular rings with valves conforming to ISO 9413.
  • Two material classes: Class A (natural rubber and blends) and Class B (butyl / halo‑butyl rubber and blends). A blend is named after the rubber comprising >60% by volume.

• Dimensional and form requirements

  • Tubes must be uniform in thickness and free from flaws; designed to fit the designated tyre nominal size.
  • Thickness uniformity: longitudinal thickness variation must not deviate more than ±17.5% from the mean (except near splices).

• Mechanical properties & splice strength

  • Elongation at break (dumb‑bell specimens, circumferential): ≥ 450% for Class A; ≥ 500% for Class B (per ISO 37 and Annex A).
  • Splice tensile strength (dumb‑bell from splice): ≥ 35 kgf/cm² for Class A; ≥ 85 kgf/cm² for Class B.

• Ageing performance

  • Set after ageing (Annex B): limits after oven ageing and recovery - ≤ 35% (Class A) and ≤ 25% (Class B).
  • Accelerated ageing (Annex C): test at 100 ±2 °C for 48 h; percent drop in elongation at break must not exceed 35% for both classes.

• Air tightness

  • Inflated tubes with valves must show no leakage when tested in water, or with approved alternative leak detection (vacuum/pressure‑less methods).

• Marking & traceability

  • Permanent external marking required: manufacturer name, applicable tyre size designation (section width, rim diameter, aspect ratio, R or D), manufacturing month/year (scheme in Annex D), and identification of butyl tubes (e.g., the word "BUTYL" and/or a blue line ≥ 2.0 mm).

• Sampling

  • Sampling plans and acceptance criteria are to be agreed between manufacturer and purchaser.

Practical applications and users

• Manufacturers of inner tubes and rubber compounds use ISO 17464 to design, test and certify production lots.
• Automotive OEMs, tyre remanufacturers, aftermarket tube suppliers and quality assurance laboratories rely on the standard to specify procurement criteria and verify performance.
• Regulatory and procurement teams include ISO 17464 in specifications to ensure compatibility, durability and safety of pneumatic tyre systems.

Related standards (normative references)

• ISO 37 - Rubber: tensile stress‑strain properties
• ISO 188 - Accelerated ageing and heat resistance tests
• ISO 9413 - Tyre valves: dimensions and designation
• ISO 3877/III - Tyres, valves and tubes: equivalent terms (Part 3: Tubes)

Keywords: ISO 17464:2016, pneumatic tubes, automotive vehicles, test methods, technical requirements, butyl tube, natural rubber, air tightness, accelerated ageing, splice strength.