Michelin New Tires: No More Punctures
Michelin took part in the forum of innovative automotive technologies on May, 18-22 in Berlin and has unveiled there its self-repairing passenger tire. The exhibition visitors could see the tire run over several sharp studs measuring 20 mm in height and still be able to go on running as if nothing had happened.
There was a sound of the tire resisting tearing followed by the sound of tearing rubber as the tire went over each of the three studs, one after another. It proved that it had actual punctures yet there was no fizzing after it, even a short one. Moreover, the air pressure in the tire remained the same before and after the experiment. The manometer showed that it lost not a single tenth of an atmosphere.
The secret of the self-regenerating tire hides in its 2-mm flexible sticky layer that covers the inner part of the tread surface. The layer is made from a specially designed substance that starts working immediately after the puncture and blocks it thus preventing air from leaking. The driver isn’t likely to learn about his “catching” a nail or any other sharp object.
One of the main issues that the tire developers had to cope with is how to make this sticky substance retain even distribution over the inner tread during long-term parking. Anyhow, even this problem was solved and the tire didn’t show any “whims” in various temperature conditions.
The maximum diameter of the hole subject to mending is 6 millimeters while 98 per cent of punctures don’t exceed 5 millimeters in diameter. The Achilles heel is the tire sidewalls that are not reinforced with the sticker, yet Michelin claims that it is tire tread that gets 95 per cent of possible tire damage.
The self-mending tire is going to hit the markets in a 2-4-year term. Then you’ll no longer need either a spare wheel or a jack, which will reduce your car’s weight and hence will help you save on fuel.
The First World’s Tires
The first tire in the world was created by an Englishman Robert William Thompson and patented by him on the 10th of June 1846. He described his invention as elastic bearing surfaces placed round wheel beads to reduce force necessary for drive carriages, which as well reduces noise generated by them as they move.
Thompson also provided a detailed construction of a new tire and mentioned materials for its production. The tire was to be placed on a wheel with wooden spokes that are inserted into a wooden bead bound with iron. The tire itself consisted of two parts: a tube and an outer coating. The tube was created from several canvas layers treated and coated with natural rubber and gutta-percha solution. The outer coating, in its turn, was made from leather pieces joint with the help of rivets.
Thompson equipped a carriage with tubed tires and carried out several tests to measure its tractive force. The tests showed that tractive force was reduced by 38 and 68 per cent on macadam and on pebble stones respectively. The greatest achievements were noise-free operation, comfortable and smooth running of the new tires.
The results of the tests were published in the «Mechanics Magazine» on the 27th of March 1849. The mankind had to face with something completely new. It was a successful invention supplied with constructive details, proved by serious tests and ready to improvements. Unfortunately, there was nobody who would take the idea seriously and put it into mass production. After Thompson has died in 1873, his air tire was forgotten, though its models have survived.
The idea was revived in 1888 by a Scotsman John Dunlop who is famous for being an inventor of a pneumatic tire. This time, the product quickly came into masses and already in 1889 it was used in bike races in Belfast. William Hume, who rode a bike equipped with pneumatic tires, won all three rounds he took part in. Now Dunlop is one of the leading tire producing companies on the market.
The History Of Winter Tires
The idea to divide tires into summer and winter types appeared in the 1960ies. Initially it was extremely difficult to convince the drivers – at first time it sounded as incredible as if You were offered a set of winter doors for Your vehicle.
But increasing mileage as well as view of cars riding on ice-covered surface made people revise their opinion and purchase wonder tires. It is necessary to point out that fifty years ago the rubber differed from the modern one: it was very porous, soft and didn’t suit for winter tires.
The designers found only one decision: to make huge studs with an inch height and hope that it will help. On ice and snow such tires performed much better than “bald” ones but the steering control at low speeds left much to desire. New technologies were to be adopted.
In the 1970ies chemists offered a new rubber compound that was immediately adopted by the military forces. Tire manufacturers decided to use it for the production of passenger tires. It was the first time when the drivers didn’t have to worry about the traction performance on ice, snow and wet asphalt.
In 1975 the governments of many European countries prohibited the use of stud tires as they spoiled road surface.
The situation was quite interesting: no one wanted to use summer tires in the winter but at the same time it was impossible to produce new models. There appeared such crazy ideas as the use of suction cups on the tires or molding of wire into the tread. Both ideas failed as few years later the chemists offered a new durable and elastic material that resolved the crisis in the tire industry.
In 1982 the Michelin company presented a new model that later became the prototype of all modern treads. In 1999 one could operate winter tires at 150mph (not on ice-covered surface, of course).
Modern winter tires provide due level of safety and comfort and You are not forbidden to operate them in the city conditions.
Uncertain Future Of Formula 1
According to the reactions of tire manufacturers no one of them is interested in the costly partnership with the Formula 1 championship what has put its future in doubt.
Pirelli, Michelin and Goodyear practically at once renounced their participation and noted that they don’t have an intention to manufacture racing slicks for Formula 1. Later there appeared rumors that Kumho or Hankook would be the official suppliers of the championship.
Toyota and Renault followed the example of Honda and BMW and announced their leaving the championship (Toyota will leave after 2010). Taking into consideration the fact that Brawn GP, the winner of this season, is experiencing serious financial difficulties after losing the support of Honda and Virgin, the leaving of four major manufacturers means that Mercedes-McLaren and Ferrari will be the only large-scale participants.
Of course, global economic recession has played its role in the depreciation of the F1 status but there are other reasons contributing to this. The behavior of Max Mosley, former FIA head, whose sexual weaknesses were actively discussed in the media, and Bernie Ecclestone who evidently tried to replenish his bank accounts, make the championship less attractive for the manufacturers who may have had the willingness to participate in it.
In spite of all this four new teams are likely to participate in the following season. One of the teams will be American. The manufacturers from the USA haven’t participated in the racing series for many years. They all will use Bridgestone tires but other tire companies don’t rush to replace the Japanese (taking into account the cost of necessary research, testing etc). Probably the teams will have to call Tire Rack…
