Space technology
Modern and safe - this is how modern tires can be described in a nutshell. The use of space technologies, including Kevlar and polymers, is becoming the standard.
Modern and safe - this is how modern tires can be described in a nutshell. The use of space technologies, including Kevlar and polymers, is becoming the standard.
Every year, tire companies offer more and more new products that use technology that has been proven under the toughest conditions, often during spaceflight. Sometimes they are also surprising, like Dunlop hired Italian company Pininfarina to style their latest SP StreetResponse and SP QuattroMaxx tires.
In the twenty-first century, car tires, thanks to the use of innovative solutions, require less and less attention from the user. The systematic development of tires and road infrastructure has reduced the once common flat tire problem. Now this happens sporadically, but still, probably, every driver has come across this. This is not a problem when we have good access to the spare wheel and the necessary tool kit. But what to do if, when loading up to the roof, you have to remove the wheel from under a pile of luggage, or “throw” it under the car on a wet road in order to get the “spare tire” from a special basket. The latest solution, which consists of injecting sealant into the wheel, will help you get to the nearest vulcanization service with minimum speed. However, these types of solutions are not always effective and prevention is better than cure.
Prevention has been a priority for the Big Five tire industry over the past few years. We have several solutions on the market that differ in details, but one assumption is to minimize the need to change the wheel on the road.
The first concept of Run Flat is based (literally) on a tire reinforced in such a way that it is possible to continue driving even after a complete loss of pressure. Currently, this technology is used by all major tire companies. It is called differently depending on the manufacturer: Bridgestone - RFT (Run Flat), Continental SSR (Self Supporting Runflat), Goodyear - RunOnFlat / Dunlop DSST (Dunlop Self-Supporting Technology), Michelin ZP (Zero Pressure), Pirelli - Run Flat . It was first used by Michelin in tires sold in the North American market.
The reinforcement of the tire refers in particular to its sidewalls, which, after a loss of pressure, must keep the tire stable at a speed of 80 km/h for a distance of up to 80 km (in order to be able to reach the nearest service center). station). However, Run Flat technology entails limitations for vehicle manufacturers and users.
Manufacturers must equip vehicles with tire pressure monitoring systems, develop special suspensions or use appropriate rims, and drivers must replace tires with new ones after damage. A similar concept is represented by the PAX system developed by Michelin. In this solution, the rim is also covered with a layer of rubber. The advantage of this solution is the much greater distance that can be covered after a puncture (about 200 km) and the possibility of repairing a punctured tire.
Technologies that prevent tire pressure loss are much more versatile, such as Continental - ContiSeal, Kleber (Michelin) - Protectis, Goodyear - DuraSeal (truck tires only). They use a special blend of self-sealing gel-like rubber.
Air pressure corresponding to the tire presses the self-sealing rubber against the inner wall of the tire. At the moment of puncture (objects with a diameter of up to 5 mm), the rubber of a liquid consistency tightly surrounds the puncture-causing object and prevents pressure loss. Even after the object is removed, the self-sealing layer is able to fill the hole.
Nowadays, not only economical tires with reduced rolling resistance testify to the efforts of engineers - the largest tire companies. The requirement of recent years is the use of an appropriate mixture of rubber and components.
An interesting proposal is a new family of Dunlop tires. The quintessential premium urban tire is the SP StreetResponse and the off-road-specific SP QuattroMaxx, which has been given its final look at Pininfarina's styling studio.
Modern technologies in tires
Sensor technology It combines a number of solutions, such as: a special bead-on-rim mounting system, a flattened tread profile and an asymmetric tread pattern with a variable total surface to tread surface ratio with grooves in contact with the ground. . Provides faster tire response to the road, better steering precision, cornering stability and improved grip on dry surfaces.
Functional polymers The rubbers used in the mixture provide increased interaction between silica and polymer and better distribution of silica in the mixture. They provide less energy lost to the tire's rolling resistance while improving key performance parameters such as tire handling and wet braking.
Tread pattern Provides effective removal of water from under the tire. Wide circumferential and longitudinal grooves provide maximum lateral water drainage and hydroplaning resistance. The combination of bi-directional grooves and notches with a central rib guarantees better cornering grip, especially on wet surfaces. On the other hand, the L- and Z-shaped grooves on the shoulder of the tire provide excellent acceleration and braking on wet surfaces.
Kevlar reinforces the tire bead. This makes the sidewall stiffer, allowing the tire to respond more quickly to the road. Improves driving precision and provides greater cornering stability. Kevlar is complemented by a rigid tread base based on truck-based solutions to increase the resistance of the tread surface.
