Michelin Won Recognition Of Consumer Reports
American edition Consumer Reports named four Michelin models as the best all-season and winter tires on the American market. The testing results will be published in November release of the edition. Each of the four models received mark “excellent” and became the winner in comparative testing that included 69 models – it was one of the most large-scale testings of all-season and winter tires held by Consumer Reports.
Michelin HydroEdge became the best all-season model in “S” and “T” speed rating categories, Michelin Primacy MXV4 and Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S showed the best performance in “H” and “V” speed rating categories correspondingly. Michelin X-Ice XI2 became the winner in the category of winter tires.
Consumer Reports engineers conducted testing taking into consideration many criteria – braking on dry and wet surface, steering control, hydroplaning resistance, traction on snow-covered surface, braking on ice, comfort, noise level, rolling resistance and durability. Although the Michelin models became the winners according to the results of the testing they weren’t the best at each of the testing criteria. Hydroedge tire, for example, received satisfactory mark for its traction performance on ice. Besides this Michelin tires appeared to be the most expensive among the tires that were tested.
Other tires that demonstrated good results were Hankook Optimo H727, Nokian WR G2, Dunlop Signature which were presented in the category of all-season tires with “H” and ”V” speed rating letters. Among winter tires the second result after Michelin X-Ice XI2 belonged to General Altimax Arctic.
Consumer Reports conducts testing of the tires according to objective and subjective criteria, measures braking distances, cornering stability on dry and wet surface, steering control when emergency maneuvering and hydroplaning resistance. To ensure the equivalence of the testing all the tires are tested in equal sizes and on the same vehicle.
New Regional Tire For Driving Axle by Continental
The Continental Tire North America company has big success in the production of tires for regional transport and presents a new product – HDR1 tire for driving axle that is intended for North-American market.
HDR1 (Heavy Drive Regional) tire is manufactured with the use of technologies that were developed by the Continental company exclusively for regional transport to ensure high treadwear and rupture resistance level as well as reliability in difficult road conditions. The tire has open shoulder area that facilitates excellent traction performance on dry and wet surface. The key features for regional transport are reliability and durability – that’s why the new tire has 28/32 tread depth. HDR1 also demonstrates high resistance to non-uniform treadwear, its rubber compound contains special components that prevent the tire from ruptures and lamination thus increasing its durability and ensuring uniform treadwear.
HDR1 is manufactured with the use of stone extrusion technology that also increases service life of the tire. Mini-bumpers extrude small stones from the slots between tread blocks not allowing them to reach the bottom of the grooves where they can damage the tire. In spite of having such bumpers HDR1 perfectly withdraws water from the contact patch and provides self-cleaning from snow and ice. The decrease of potential damage from stones improves tire’s durability and its ability to restore. These are key features for the owners of transport companies.
Mr. Cliff Armstrong, manager of commercial tire marketing department of the North-American subdivision of the Continental company, comments on the new tire: “Continental HDR1 is extremely strong tire that is able to cope with difficult tasks of regional transport. At the same time it ensures excellent steering control and all-season performance.”
HDR1 can be mounted on any axle and is sold in 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 275/80R22.5 and 285/75R24.5 sizes.
Fourth Generation Of Runflat Tires By Dunlop
Thermal Control Technology increases riding comfort – Runflat tires have become as comfortable (or even more comfortable) than regular tires.
The Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. company has recently announced that its new Thermal Control Technology allowed to make the last step in the development of safe Runflat tires that will ensure maximum comfort. New tires will provide even higher level of comfort than regular tires. The second largest tire manufacturer of Japan has been working on the new generation of Runflat tires for a long time. The main objective of the engineers was the increase of safety and environmental protection.
The first Runflat system was called DENOVO. It was applied by the Dunlop company in 1970. The principle of its work was the following: a cartridge with jelly-like liquid was attached to the rim of the wheel inside the tire. When tire lost the pressure the cartridge exploded thus creating protective layer inside the tire what allowed to fix the puncture. The new DENOVO 2 generation appeared a bit later. DENLOC technology that appeared in 1972 allowed tire not to run off the rim in case of pressure loss. The new generation of this technology appeared in 1979.
In 2000 Sumitomo Rubber developed CTT Runflat Tire that became the second generation of safe tires. Unique design of tread profile that was patented under the name of CTT Profile allowed to reduce tire weight by 10% thus decreasing its vertical rigidity and increase comfort by 15% if to compare with the first generation of Runflat tires.
Today after t
horough examining of tools for heat accumulation decrease Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. launches the fourth generation of Runflat tires that use Thermal Control Technology. When the tire looses pressure it undergoes considerable deformation and its sidewalls begin to heat with every rotation of the tire. The company developed and combined 4 technologies: CTT Profile, aramid carcass, materials with high heat conduction ratio and new design of sidewall that contains holes. Application of the new technologies allowed to make after-puncture distance 2 times longer if to compare with the third generation. The holes in the sidewall allowed to reduce its thickness by 30% and correspondingly decrease the weight by 3%, vertical rigidness – by 6%.
From now on Runflat tires provide even more comfort than regular ones.
New Winter Tire By BFGoodrich
BFGoodrich company is launching a new winter tire – BFGoodrich Winter Slalom KSI with S speed rating letter that was designed exclusively for riding on the ice and deep snow.
The world market of off-the-road winter tires is continuing its stable development. By 2013 the companies will have sold more than 10 million tires (around 6 million are sold at present). The average annual market growth is estimated at 10%.
More aggressive lugs provide maximum traction at the beginning of the ride thus ensuring excellent steering control when braking and cornering. Deep grooves at the shoulder area more effectively withdraw slush and water from the contact patch and guarantee superb off-the-road performance in deep snow.
A new rubber compound has been developed by the engineers of the BFGoodrich company to provide maximum traction performance on snow and ice. Optimal proportion of sipes and grooves increases the area of the contact patch and ensures stable high level of traction throughout the whole service life of the tire.
Bidirectional sipes improve the stability of tread blocks and provide perfect steering control. Sloped tread block edges increase reliability and service life of the tire. The tire contour allows to optimize pressure level.
BFGoodrich Winter Slalom KSI tires are available in 20 sizes with 8 – 10 inch width, 15 – 17 inch rim seat diameter. “S” speed ratin letter allows to mount the tires on vehicles with maximum speed of 160mph.
The BFGoodrich company recommends to mount tires of equal size, model, speed and load rating letters both on front and rear axle of SUVs in case no other configuration is stipulated by the manufacturer. The non-fulfillment of this requirement can lead to the damage of such suspension elements as central differential.
