Chafing strips are designed to protect which component of a tire?

Chafing strips are primarily used to protect the tire rim from causing damage to the tire itself. When a tire is mounted onto a wheel rim, the chafing strip acts as a barrier to prevent any contact that could lead to wear or abrasion of the tire material. This protection helps to ensure the integrity and longevity of the tire, as damage to the rim can lead to further issues such as air loss or structural failure.

While chafing strips can play a role in the overall protection of a tire, particularly in helping maintain the relationship between the tire and the rim, they do not serve as primary safeguards for the tread, sidewall, or cord body against wear or cuts. Instead, those components typically rely on their own inherent design and material properties for protection.