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…
Great Tire - Great Puncture!
New Tire Recyling Methods
We talked many times about ecology and this topic is a challenge in the XXI-st century. So every time we have to invent new methods how to use things without recycling and polluting the environment.
For example, tires from motor vehicles are a very big problem, since they’ve been invented (imagine: only in the United States nearly 200 million passenger car tires sold per year - millions of Bridgestone, Continental, Sumitomo tires…). When they are all brand-new, everything is excellent. They do not too much harm to the environment. But what to do with old, used, and already spoiled ones? They are being thrown or burnt in landfills, but the smoke from the burning, of course, is terrible. It is not just an awful smell, but also a throw of harmful toxic substances into the atmosphere. But you can solve this problem, if you wish. And a very unusual way to do so the designer Carl Menary offers. His concept of «Re-Tyre» is a step in the right direction in the fight for clean air and free from environmental toxins. Designer makes the chairs from the tires! They look unusual, strange, but it is not the main thing.
I think when we go to the park or a pond, we do not care where to sit, except not on the asphalt. And in the absence of benches, you can use these new «chairs». No one proposes to furnish a bedroom or living room, but in the courtyard of your house – why not?
