Single row tapered roller bearings are designed to accommodate combined loads, i.e. simultaneously acting radial and axial loads. The projection lines of the raceways meet at a common point on the bearing axis  to provide a true rolling action and therefore low frictional moments during operation. The axial load carrying capacity of tapered roller bearings increases with increasing contact angle α. The size of the contact angle, which is usually between 10° and 30°, is related to the calculation factor e (from the data table): the larger the value of e, the larger the contact angle.

Single-row tapered roller bearings are the most basic and widely used, consisting of a cone assembly and a cup. Timken patented the first in 1898 and today offers the world's widest variety in inch and metric sizes.

In the HR series, the rollers are increased in both size and number giving it an even higher load capacity. They are generally mounted in pairs in a manner similar to single-row angular contact ball bearings. In this case, the proper internal clearance can be obtained by adjusting the axial distance between the cones or cups of the two opposed bearings. Since they are separable, the cone assemblies and cups can be mounted independently.