Check Your Mail! Your Tires Have Worn!
Posted on January 11, 2010
Filed Under Interesting | Leave a Comment
It is not a secret that today in Europe practically every step of the driver is subject to thorough documentation that is conducted with the help of video cameras and different sensors. For example – if You stay at a parking with Your engine turned on a little bit longer, a watchful sensor will immediately report about the exceeding of the maximum amount of the exhaust gas emission in the atmosphere. And You will be fined! The new development of the “ProContour” company is aimed not at the restriction of the driver’s freedom but at the saving of priceless lifes.
A high-speed camera with laser tread control system is will be installed on busy highways to detect the tires with worn sipes. The astonishing performance speed of the system (more than 430mln detections per second) will allow to reach excellent results. Three-dimensional scan of the tread profile and powerful analyzer will allow to detect the type of the tire and whether it conforms to the season. In the future the company hopes to extend the set of functions and teach the system to determine the index of admissible load.
The producer hopes to sell the units to the cities that suffer from accidents occurred due to the use of worn tires. For example, in Germany worn treads entail not less that four accidents every day.
The company guarantees the operating capacity of the unit even at 60mph speed.
But it would be useful to remind – on dry surface the tire can easily “digest” rapid acceleration allowing the vehicle to brake efficiently. But even the slightest change of the driving conditions, light rain and snow will cause immediate skidding. Hydroplaning effect and laws of physics cannot be abandoned.
Good luck!!!
Brief Tire History
Posted on January 10, 2010
Filed Under Dunlop Tires, Interesting | Leave a Comment
On 10 June, 1846 an application was sent to a patent office. It said: “The essence of my invention lies in the application of elastic supporting surfaces around rims of the carriage wheels. The technology will allow to spend less energy to make them move as well as reduce the level of noise that they create.”
Robert William Thomson marked the era of tires by this invention. Since those times the tire has continued its victorious procession on the planet. In spite of the remoteness Thomson described the essence of his invention on an extremely high technical level. He not only described the design but also clearly determined the production technology.
Initially the tire rested upon the wooden rim with wooden spokes. The rim was reinforced by metal insertion. The tire itself consisted of layers of cloth drenched in rubber. The pieces of leather reinforced by metal rivets contacted with the road surface. The first specimens of tires showed substantial decrease of energy spent on the moving of carriages. The great plus was excellent comfort and high noiselessness of riding. All this determined further vector of the development of wheels for vehicles. Since then the design of the tires has been constantly changing.
Unfortunately after the death of the inventor in 1873 the design of Thomson was almost forgotten. In 1888 a common Scottish veterinarian John Dunlop applied pieces of garden hose and wide hoops for the three-wheel bicycle of his son. The result exceeded all expectations – the shaky carriage turned into reliable and comfortable vehicle.
The success inspired the inventor and 1890 he founded a company that manufactured rubber products. However, Dunlop forgot about the patent owners. The court made him leave the business. The small reward was the preservation of the company’s name.
Avon Tyres Will Use Only Ecological Oils
Posted on December 29, 2009
Filed Under Avon Tires | Leave a Comment
Avon Tyres company has announced that beginning from 2010 it would use “ecological” or “clean” oils for the production of the tires.
According to the announcement of the company the new tires will provide more ecological friendliness without sacrificing traction performance. Moreover, “tires of High Performance segment and of higher segments will provide even better traction performance”.
Beginning from January 2010 all new motorcycle tires sold in the European Union will be manufactured with the use of oils distinguished by the extremely low content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Avon has already fulfilled the necessary modification of the manufacturing process and all the tires will conform with the requirements of the European Community Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH). The new material will be used for the manufacture of Avon Storm 2 Ultra tire that has recently premiered at the Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show.
Peter McNally, technical production manager of the Avon motorcycle department, said: “We have worked a lot for the two previous years to carry out the transition to the ‘clean oils’ because if we want to sell our tires in Europe next year we have to make the alterations. The use of new materials made us develop new compounds for several models. In most cases the traction performance has remained unchanged but if we speak, for example, about Avon VP2 Xtreme tire the traction has become even better ”.
Sales manager of Avon motorcycle tire department also added: “Though the use of oils without the content of PAH is compulsory only for the European market all Avon motorcycle tires will be manufactured according to the new requirements as our company strives not only to manufacture the production of the highest quality but also reduce damage to the environment.”
Unique Michelin Tire Is Exposed At The National Corvette Museum
Posted on December 29, 2009
Filed Under Interesting, Michelin Tires | 1 Comment
Austin Hatcher charitable foundation exposed a rare Michelin tire with hand-made tread at the National Corvette Museum.
Besides the tire the visitors can see the rear wheel of 2007 American Le Mans Series GT1 Championship Corvette at the museum that is situated in the town of Bowling-Green, Kentucky. The exhibit from the motor racing history will be kept in museum till the middle of January. After that it will be put to the auction the whole profit of which will be given to the children that have cancer.
During the 2009 American Le Mans Series Petite Le Mans championship the pilots of the Corvette Racing team, the guests of the Austin Hatcher foundation and celebrities had the chance to participate personally in the grooving of the tread of the unique tire mounted on BBS wheel. The whole event was called American Le Mans Series/Michelin/Corvette Racing Tire Groove Event. During one weekend a lot of people contributed to the creation of this tire. The tread has the logos of Michelin, Corvette Racing, American Le Mans Series and Austin Hatcher Foundation.
The rear wheel was presented by the Corvette Racing team. GT Corvette won all 11 racings of the 2007 American Le Mans Series championship with the Michelin tire mounted on it.
The tire was created with the help of the Corvette Racing team pilots Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen, Johnny O’Connel who participated in the racing on Compuware Corvette C6.R No.3 as well as Olivier Beretta, Marcel Fassler and Oliver Gavin who drove Compuware Corvette C6.R No.4. The manager of the Corvette Racing Doug Fehan also took part in the event.
