RunFlat Tires. Advantages And Disadvantages.
The modern world of vehicle manufacture is constantly changing. New technologies are developing not only in the field of car production but also in the appearance of innovative tire constructions. The perfect example of this – RSC (RunFlat System Component) technology.
Different manufacturers use different abbreviations for marking of such tires. For example: Bridgestone RFT, Continental SSR, Goodyear RunOnFlat, Nokian Run Flat, Michelin ZP, Kumho XPR, Toyo Run Flat (TRF) etc.
Such tires allow to continue a ride with a total loss of pressure at 50mph speed for a 30 – 90 mile distance (depending on the producer).
Such characteristics of the tires allow not to carry spare wheel what frees space in the trunk. Besides this the driver doesn’t have to change punctured tire. This process is unsafe and unpleasant as there can be unfavourable weather conditions not to mention loss of time and dirty hands.
Besides this when loosing the pressure rapidly at high speed the car equipped with such tires ensures better directional and cornering stability allowing the driver to stop or finish maneuver. Tires equipped with RSC technology do not need special mounting equipment and are suitable for regular wheels. Both summer and winter tires are manufactured with the use of Runflat technology.
The only condition for the mounting of such tires is obligatory presence of tire pressure control system in the car! If You don’t have it You can just not feel the loss of the pressure at low speeds while at high speeds it can lead to an accident.
The main idea of Runflat technology is the use of enhanced sidewall and enhanced cord that provides more reliable mounting of the tire on a wheel.
Now it’s time to talk about the disadvantages. The main disadvantages are high price of the tire (depending on the size it can be higher by 50%) and its big weight.
Big weight affects dynamic characteristics of the car. More rigid sidewalls make the tire half as heavy as regular ones. After the mounting of such tires the car becomes “heavier” what results in the loss of comfort.
All the major tire manufacturers are working on the improvement of weight and comfort characteristics.
Anyway, the choice is up to You…
Perfect Winter Tire – Michelin Version
Can a winter tire be economical and at the same time ensure excellent performance? This question was of primary importance for Michelin engineers who designed the second generation of X-ICE North winter stud tire.
Traditionally assignments for the developers of winter tires are given on the base of different analyses – weather and climatic conditions, models of the competitors, operation conditions and drivers’ preferences.
When developing its new winter model Michelin company relied on the survey that was conducted by one famous European organizations. The results of the survey revealed factors concerning winter operation that worried European drivers. For example in Germany and Sweden the drivers are afraid of driving on melted snow as there may be hidden ice beneath. In Russia the most dangerous roads are those rolled with snow and ice.
The primary objective of Michelin constructors was to design the winter tire that would suit exactly for such conditions. The result of the work was the presentation of a new winter stud tire X-ICE North of the second generation. It took place in Finland at the other side of the Polar Circle.
The producer asserts that it has considerably improved four basic characteristics that are vital for safety on the winter road. Firstly, the braking distance of the new tire was reduced by 10%. Secondly, its driving force in deep snow was improved by 10%. Thirdly, stability of the vehicle on the ice was increased by 5%. Fourthly, the cornering stability of the vehicle was improved by 7%. Besides this the new tire is lighter by 1,1lb what makes it more economical.
All this was gained through a number of different know-hows what is quite typical of winter tires. While competitors achieve success on the ice by adopting original studs with various core configurations Michelin asserts that the stud with cylindrical core has the most optimal shape in regard to the balance between safety and damage of the road surface.
Bridgestone On Formula 1 Grand Prix In Japan
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) won at Grand Prix Japan that was held on Sudzuka track. The winner used the strategy of “rigid-rigid-soft” tires.
Vettel was faster by four seconds than Jarno Trulli from Panasonic Toyota Racing team who used the same strategy. Lewis Hamilton chose “soft-rigid-soft” tactics and was the third.
Shoshi Arakawa, the chairman of the board of directors, president and CEO of the Bridgestone company, comments on the victory of Vettel: “We congratulate Sebastian Vettel on his Victory at Sudzuka track. The racing took place in Japan in excellent weather conditions after a two-year break. I am sure that the viewers enjoyed the struggle of the best pilots of the world to a full extent. We are proud that our tires have become a part of this impressive and catching racing. As the official supplier of tires for Formula 1 the Bridgestone company will continue to support teams and pilots during the two last racings of the season”.
Hiroshi Yasukawa, manager of sport department of the Bridgestone company: “My congratulations to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing for their help to maintain the spirit of the championship thanks to their victory. I also congratulate Yarno Trulli who brought the second place to Toyota, and the current champion Lewis Hamilton who became the third on his McLaren. The racing was attended by high-ranked guests from Bridgestone, company workers and board members. They had a remarkable opportunity to enjoy this fantastic racing.”
Hirihide Hamashima, manager of sport tire development department: “Soft tires have shown good performance from the very beginning of the racing but beginning from the second half of the racing they “revived” and demonstrated superb sport features. High temperature of the track surface enabled the use of rigid tires what is not recommended on cold surface because of long heating period. This was a fully reasonable strategy for those who cared about fast wear of soft tires. Nevertheless, the pilots who used soft tires at the start also showed good results.”
Ecopia EP150 - A New Tire By Bridgestone
Bridgestone company presents a new generation of ecologic tires – Ecopia EP150.
The new tire provides extremely low rolling resistance and embodies high safety level combined with reduced fuel consumption and CO2 exhaust.
The tire was officially presented at Frankfurt Motor Show.
The new generation of the ecological tires is distinguished by the use of nano-technologies and totally new design of tread pattern.
NanoPro-TechTM technology ensures low rolling resistance ratio that is gained through the economy of energy in the upper layers of the tread when rotating.
The tread also has new tread pattern design with blocks that are united with thin central rib what allows the tire to provide better traction of the contact patch with the road surface as well as improved braking performance on wet surface.
Indicator of the rolling resistance of the new tire was improved by 15% (if to compare with other products of Bridgestone company that have identical size). Such improvement results in 3% decrease of fuel consumption and, in its turn, in 3% decrease of CO2 exhaust.
Ecopia EP150 will appear on the market in 2010. The novelty is intended for medium-power cars.
Ecopia can be regarded as a leading brand of Bridgestone company that stands for the decrease of CO2 exhaust thus preventing global warming through the fuel efficiency of cars. Reduced rolling resistance level allows to save energy resources at the same time providing excellent performance.
In Japan Ecopia tires were first mounted on the EV in 1991. In 2002 Ecopia M881 and Ecopia R221 suited for trucks and buses appeared on the market. In 2005 Bridgestone Japan presented Ecopia M812 tire for light trucks. Ecopia EP100 was presented in the April of 2008.
A series of premium Turanza ER300 Ecopia tires was presented in the April of 2009. The tire is already used for original kitting of some cars.
