Continental shares that it has further improved the rolling resistance properties of a specific OEM EcoContact 6 tyre, and by doing so has set a “new rolling-resistance benchmark for the entire industry.” This rolling resistance properties of this tyre, which Continental supplies to Ford as original equipment, now surpass the EU tyre label’s ‘A’ category by more than 15 per cent.
Grantham-based retreader Vaculug has achieved a world-first with the launch of its KT01. Testing at the Applus+ IDIADA testing ground in Spain has verified that this latest addition to the Vaculug portfolio has a lower rolling resistance coefficient than is required for a new tyre to gain an EU label rating of A for this criterion.
Continental is rolling out the latest-generation Conti EcoPlus range, the Conti EcoPlus 3+. It states that thanks to these tyres’ reduced rolling resistance and higher fuel efficiency, it can offer fleet operators “an optimised commercial vehicle tyre.”
Continental reports that its share of the tyre market for fully electric vehicles is growing, with six of the ten global highest-volume manufacturers of electric vehicles selecting the brand as original equipment in 2020. This includes fitment on key electric models like the Tesla Model 3 and Model S, and Volkswagen’s ID.3, as well as with manufacturers aiming to gain a foothold in the European electric vehicle market, such as BYD, one of China’s largest car producers.
Improving a tyre’s wear efficiency by up to 30 per cent while decreasing rolling resistance by up to six per cent without affecting any other performance area sounds like a tall order. But Bridgestone says that it has achieved this together with partners Arlanxeo and Solvay. The three firms presented Techsyn, the fruit of two years of collaboration, during an online presentation this afternoon.
Apollo Tyres has unveiled a new eco-oriented tyre developed by its R&D facilities in Europe and India and offering a “best in class rolling resistance coefficient.” The tyre maker says the Apollo Amazer XP complies with BS VI, India’s equivalent of Euro 6 standards, and is electric vehicle ready. Apollo will initially only sell the Amazer XP range in India, including as an original equipment tyre for several vehicles.
47 year old Finn Jussi Kallioniemi has been officially confirmed as the new Guinness World Record holder for the fastest time to push a car one mile.
The new World Record was set on October 24 at the tyre manufacturer’s test track at Nokia in Finland, and Kallioniemi’s time of 13 minutes and 26 seconds beat the previous record by almost two minutes.
The Michelin Group aims for complete carbon neutrality by 2050, and it seems that every little helps. The tyre maker’s efforts even extend to its communications, and so it was that when sharing news of a new product’s impending launch, Michelin encouraged invitees to take their ‘first eco-action’ by spurning e-mail contact in favour of text messages. It explained that this form of communication’s carbon footprint was 0.00125g, some 200 times smaller than that of an e-mail. I did not know that.
Many international manufacturers view a good EU tyre label result as a benchmark of product performance. At the end of 2018, Prinx Chengshan’s research and development centre in China began work on its ‘AA1’ project, with the aim of developing a product achieving the best label category for wet grip, rolling resistance and noise. The tyre maker reports that it’s achieved its goal.
Pirelli says its tyres will be become safer and greener in the coming five years, and will come to market more quickly, too. The company has outlined its performance targets for the Pirelli passenger vehicle range within its new 2020-2022 Industrial Plan, which was approved on Wednesday
Nynas is attending Tire Technology Expo in Hannover, Germany, 25-27 February 2020 where the company is showing how tyres made with Nynas oils provide “low rolling resistance, reducing energy losses and fuel consumption, while maintaining wet grip for improved control on snow and ice.” Performance of naphthenic oil in winter tyres will also be examined in a presentation by Technical Advisor Dr. Kamyar Alavi, entitled “Get a grip: performance of naphthenic oil in winter tyres.”
Proposed changes to the EU Tyre Labelling Regulation came a step closer to becoming reality on Wednesday when the European Parliament, Council and Commission reached a political agreement on the matter. The text of the Regulation now awaits formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council. Once both endorse the updated Regulation in the coming months, it will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and will enter into force 20 days after publication. The new Regulation will apply from 1 May 2021.
A window into the future of tyres, Yokohama-style, awaits visitors to the Tokyo Motor Show. The Yokohama Rubber stand will feature a “future technologies corner”, at which Yokohama will introduce its CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Services) technologies.
With the introduction of the Pirelli H:01 Proway line, Prometeon Tyre Group says it is offering tyres that provide “maximum efficiency in long-distance transportation” thanks to reduced rolling resistance and improved durability. Two tyres are available in this latest evolution of the :01 Series – the steer axle Pirelli FH:01 Proway and the drive axle TH:01 Proway.
Bridgestone has launched Enliten, a new lightweight tyre technology designed to reduce rolling resistance and contribute to the reduction of a vehicle’s CO2 emissions, while providing the same wear life as a standard original equipment tyre. The company states the new material will benefit car manufacturers, drivers, and the environment.
Nokian Tyres
Prinx Chengshan
Bridgestone