Rolling Resistance: What Really Makes a Tire Fuel-Efficient? - Tire Review Magazine

Rolling Resistance: What Really Makes a Tire Fuel-Efficient?

res are carbon black and silica.The use of lower levels of filler and larger sized particles result inbetter rolling resistance. Carbon black is predominantly used in tires,but the use of silica has become a primary alternative to improverolling resistance. When silica is used to improve rolling resistance,it is traditionally used with a silane coupling agent, which is arubber chemical that helps in bonding the silica to the polymer.  

The final component in a tire compound for improving rolling resistanceis the cure system. This is a combination of rubber chemicals that,when heated together with the polymer and filler, form insoluble crosslinks, tying everything together into a solid, elastic rubber tirecompound. The cross links are generally derived from sulfur, and themore crosslinks there are the better the rolling resistance will be.

The number of sulfur atoms contained in the crosslink also impactsrolling resistance, with 1 or 2 sulfur atoms being better than 8 atoms.

All these materials now have to be mixed together. Many factors impactrolling resistance during the mixing process, e.g., the order of addingthe ingredients, the mixing temperature and mixing time. All areoptimized to help finely disperse the filler into the polymer, whichsignificantly improves rolling resistance.

In addition, how the tire is manufactured and how the materials areprocessed can affect rolling resistance. Determining the best way tocure a tire (time and temperature) or how to mix the compounds canenable improvements in the physical properties and chemistry of thecompounds in the tire.

Understanding these relationships and controlling them is important to improving rolling resistance.

 

Skurich is the Lead Engineer, Sport Performance Tires, for Goodyear Tire &Rubber Co.

You May Also Like

Hankook features SmartLine TBR tires at TMC 2024

Hankook said both the SmartLine AL52 and SmartLine DL52 include hidden groove technology, which adjusts tread patterns as the tire wears.

Hankook-TMC-2024

Hankook Tire unveiled its SmartLine AL52 and SmartLine DL52 truck bus and radial (TBR) tires as part of the 2024 Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) showcase hosted by the American Trucking Association (ATA) in New Orleans from March 4-7. In addition to its latest TBR products, Hankook Tire showcased its tire-mounted sensor technology (TMS) and Fleet Management Solution (FMS) designed for commercial vehicle operators.

Apollo Tires showcases longhaul truck tire range at TMC Expo

Apollo Tires’ steer tire EnduMile LH front, drive tire EnduMile LHD and trailer tire EnduMile LHT are fully available across the US.

Apollo-Tires-TMC-24
Goodyear adds the RSA ULT, RTD ULT to its RangeMax tire line

Goodyear said the all-position tires help deliver range efficiency through low rolling resistance and long miles to removal.

range-max-RTD-angled
Cracking the case of the cracked loader tire casing

Let’s evaluate how loader operators spec tires.

Yokohama-Cracked-Casing-OTR-Tires-Yard-1400
Hankook launches new Winter icept iZ3 studless winter tire

The manufacturer said its Winter icept iZ is designed for compact and full-size sedans, while the icept iZ X is designed for the SUV segment.

Hankook-Winter_icept_iz3

Other Posts

Continental’s ContiConnect Lite to allow digital tire management for OTR tires

Continental said ContiConnect Lite helps fleet managers monitor the condition of their tires via bluetooth.

ContiConnect-Lite-OTR
Continental introduces digital tool to check truck tire health

Continental said it’s allowing fleets and truck drivers to test the system for free and users can configure up to five vehicles.

continental_pp_conticonnect_lite
Yokohama joins non-profit promoting standardization, access to tire data

As a GDSO member, Yokohama Rubber said it will comply with industry standards promoting individual tire identification management.

Yokohama-tire-data-1400
Maxam releases new sizes for its AgilXtra I-3 implement tire

Maxam said its AgilXtra radial tires are designed with a steel-belted construction utilizing a directional tread design.

MAXAM-agilxtra_th