Overview
ISO 3877-3:1978 - "Tyres, valves and tubes - List of equivalent terms - Part 3: Tubes" is an ISO terminology standard that provides a multilingual glossary for tyre inner tubes. The document lists equivalent terms in English, French and Russian (in three columns) and includes an annex with Italian equivalents. The principal tube-related terms (items 1–12) are illustrated in the standard.
Key topics
- Purpose: standardized, equivalent terminology for tyre tubes used across languages in the tyre industry.
- Languages covered: English, French, Russian, plus Italian equivalents in an annex.
- Illustrated principal tube terms (English examples):
- 1. Crown
- 2. Sidewall
- 3. Base
- 4. Vents / Venting pattern
- 5. Valve offset
- 6. Valve
- 7. Section width
- 8. Outside mould parting line
- 9. Inside diameter
- 10. Section height
- 11. Outside diameter
- 12. Gauge (wall thickness)
- Additional terminology: periphery (circumference/girth), flat width, circumference = π × outside diameter, splice - butt, splice - lap.
- Notes: Definitions for some tyre-industry terms are cross-referenced to ISO 4223; terms relating to wheels/rims are referenced to ISO 3911.
Practical applications
- Ensures consistent multilingual naming in:
- Technical documentation, drawings and engineering specifications for inner tubes
- Product catalogs, labels and marketing material for tyre and tube manufacturers
- Translation and localization of technical content between English, French, Russian and Italian
- Regulatory submissions, procurement contracts and international supply chains where precise terminology avoids ambiguity
- Training materials, maintenance manuals and industry standards harmonization
- Users who benefit:
- Tyre and tube designers, manufacturers and quality teams
- Technical writers, translators and localization specialists
- Standards committees and conformity assessment bodies
- Aftermarket suppliers, repair workshops and training organizations
Related standards
- ISO 3877 (other Parts) - equivalent-term lists for tyres and valves (see ISO 3877/1 and ISO 3877/2 references in the standard)
- ISO 4223 - definitions of some tyre-industry terms
- ISO 3911 - nomenclature and definitions for wheels/rims
ISO 3877-3:1978 is a concise, language-focused tool for anyone needing authoritative, cross‑language terminology for tyre inner tubes, helping reduce miscommunication in global product design, manufacturing and documentation.
