Technology used in passenger vehicle tyres is changing constantly. Suppliers are always examining new ways to improve the efficiency, durability and safety of tyres, while producing them in an eco-friendly and cost efficient manner. To this end, there have been several recent innovations that could have a big impact on the future of the tyre industry.
Run-flat
Run-flat tyres are by no means a new phenomenon, and have been used in the automotive industry for decades, but many suppliers have been trying to improve on their run-flat tyres, making them more durable and improve the driving experience.
Bridgestone recently launched its DriveGuard tyres in Europe. If these are subject to sidewall damage or puncture, the driver can continue at 80kph (50mph) for 80km, “which means you can carry on driving in a safe vehicle, eliminating the need for you to stop in a dangerous place like on a motorway,” Jake Ronsholt, Managing Director, Consumer Business Unit, Bridgestone Europe told Megatrends.
DriveGuard tyres can be equipped on nearly every vehicle that uses a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), he continued. They also have reinforced sidewalls to make sure that the driver is fully protected from “surprising situations” should a puncture occur in an awkward location or at a particularly difficult time.
Eduardo Minardi, Executive Chairman, Bridgestone Europe, echoed these statements, adding: “Our research shows that 60% of drivers have had a tread or sidewall puncture in the past four years. Around 23% of them happen after nightfall, and over half of them happen in inconvenient locations. These stats illustrate a challenge that Bridgestone had to take on with DriveGuard.”
Minardi believes that DriveGuard tyres represent an important step forward for the safety of passenger vehicles, and expects Bridgestone to continue launching innovative products that are “designed to keep drivers safe in all scenarios.”
Sidewall technology
The seemingly unstoppable growth of SUV sales, globally, has forced many OEMs to launch new models to meet market demand – and tyre manufacturers have needed to adjust their product portfolios accordingly. Finland-based supplier Nokian Tyres is hoping to take advantage of this growing demand for SUVs and crossovers with the recent launch of its Aramid Sidewall Technology in its winter tyre portfolio.
The technology uses Aramid fibres – a heat-resistant class of strong, synthetic fibers, which have typically been used in military applications for ballistic-rated body armour fabrics. When used in tyres, Aramid Sidewall Technology stiffens and strengthens the sidewall, allowing it to withstand greater impact without bursting.
The technology was previously used in Nokian’s summer tyre line. Speaking to Megatrends, Petri Niemi, Head of Product and Price Management, Car and Van Tyres, explained why the company has decided to include it in its winter portfolio.
“The durability that Aramid Sidewall provides, combined with the evident safety benefits, has made it an indispensable technology,” he said. “Nokian has decided to continue using the well-received technology in its premium winter products, after successfully launching it in our Hakkapeliitta 8 studded tyres for SUVs.”
The biggest demand for Nokian’s Aramid Sidewall Technology is from the SUV segment, continued Niemi. He thinks that the supplier could use it in tyres for other segments, but its priority “was to ensure our customers could use the technology in their SUVs all year round.”
A tyre for all seasons
Michelin dubbed the launch of its CrossClimate tyre as one of its most important product launches for a decade. According to the French supplier, it delivers “the same level of grip, road holding, energy efficiency and durability expected of a Michelin summer tyre, while maintaining winter performance comparable to that of a Michelin winter tyre.”
The CrossClimate tyre carries the three peak mountain snow flake (3PMSF) logo that illustrates its certification as a winter tyre, while also boasting Europe’s highest label rating of ‘A’ for wet braking. Its V-shaped tread optimises grip in snow, and vertical and lateral waves in the sipes enhance the stability and improve steering precision on dry roads.
Speaking to Megatrends, a Michelin spokesperson was eager to point out the difference between CrossClimate and ‘all-season’ products that are also on the market.
“Most ‘all-season’ tyres start as a winter tyre, and then the manufacturer works backwards to get sufficient technology for summer performance. But this means there is a real compromise for the summer attributes,” he affirmed. “We started the other way round on CrossClimate, because we considered our target market in Europe, the majority of which only gets a few days of snow a year. So there is no absolutely compromise on the summer performance side, and CrossClimate has great performance in winter conditions too.”
Although he admitted that CrossClimate’s winter characteristics are not on the same level as a specialised Michelin winter tyre, he stressed the point that “there is much less compromise compared to an ‘all-season’ tyre.”
Natural rubber and sustainable production
In 2014, Continental started trialling vehicles that used its WinterContact TS 850 P tyres with Taraxagum – a title deriving from the botanical name for dandelion (taraxacum). Working with Fraunhofer Institute, the supplier produced the dandelion-based rubber, which marked an “important step closer to reaching its long-term goal of making tyre production more sustainable and less dependent on traditional raw materials.”
Explaining Taraxagum in more detail, a Continental spokesperson told Megatrends: “The first series of test tyres that used Taraxagum were winter tyres because they contain a high proportion of natural rubber. In terms of serial production, it will realistically be around five to eight years before we are ready to mass-produce these tyres. As with any new development, it has to go through a range of rigorous test phases.”
Testing of Continental’s Taraxagum tyres is still on-going, he affirmed, and acknowledged the importance of factors like safety and efficiency when it comes to produces new tyres. However, he was keen to highlight eco-friendly production as the most important factor of Taraxagum.
“The work with this project is all about sustainability and showcasing our leading approach,” he observed. “There are several other manufactures looking at similar projects, not necessarily with dandelions but other sustainable products. For us, we believe that Taraxagum is the most sustainable route towards future rubber production.”
What lies ahead?
With many innovative products hitting the passenger vehicle tyre market, suppliers are evidently exploring new ways of meeting industry demand. But this is nothing new, says Bridgestone’s Ronsholt.
“We have a strong history of bringing innovative products like DriveGuard to the passenger vehicle market,” he said. “Like many of our competitors, we are putting more emphasis on high value added (HVA) tyres, which have certain unique qualities that make them stand out and become more appealing.”
He believes that this will be a continued area of focus and growth opportunity for the entire tyre industry, “because not only do they deliver a better margin for us as manufacturers, but they also deliver something more than a standard premium tyre for the end user.”
Fuel economy has, and always will be, important in the tyre industry, says Jamie McWhir, Michelin’s Technical Manager. “I won’t even open the hornet’s nest that is emissions, but a tyre that can the improve fuel economy and emissions of a vehicle by 1%, or even half a percent, could be crucial in helping OEMs meet [fuel economy] targets.”
He also referred to a new range of Michelin tyres that are currently under development, adhering to demand from the luxury hybrid vehicle segment. “In cars like Tesla’s Model S, or the Porsche Mission E that will soon be built, the quietness of the tyre is such an important quality. So we are developing acoustic products that have a sound deadening foam inside them.”
OEMs around the world face ever-stricter regulations on safety, fuel economy and emissions, demands which they are meeting through the adoption of lightweight materials and a variety of alternative powertrain technologies. Consumers are also becoming more demanding, with a growing expectation among car buyers for a premium automotive experience even in the mainstream car segments. Noise, ride, handling and sustainability – all in a day’s work for the global tyre industry.
This article appeared in the Q1 2016 issue of Automotive Megatrends Magazine. Follow this link to download the full issue.
