Yokohama develops 'shelled microbubbles' for winter tyres

Toronto, Canada - Yokohama Rubber Co has developed new technologies to overcome the thin film of water underneath a tyre at temperatures between 0°C and -6°C, according to a corporate press release.

The company says its "Shelled microbubbles" are just that. It explains, "Microscopic bubbles in the rubber compound with hard shells. The shell is broken when the tyre rotates and the shell contacts the road, creating a tiny, round void in the surface like a tiny suction cup. The void creates suction as it contacts the ice surface, pulling water up into the space. As the tyre rotates past the point of contact, centrifugal force expels the water from the void. The process is repeated with each degree of tyre rotation as thousands of the tiny bubbles absorb and drain water."

Yokohama adds that "absorptive carbon flakes" dispersed throughout the rubber compound accomplish a similar objective using capillary action. itr explains, "The absorptive carbon flakes, like the shelled microbubbles, are liberally distributed through the rubber compound. Looking like fabric folded in an accordion pleat inside a tiny void in the rubber, the elements form a series of parallel channels. Like the bubbles, these voids are broken by contact with the road surface. As the void contacts the road, some of the thin film of water is drawn up into the folds by capillary action. The water drains from the voids as the tyre rotates, and the process is repeated. "

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Press release from Yokohama Tire (Canada)