16 Apr 2013
ERJ staff report (BC)
Tokyo - The Yokohama Rubber Co. has developed a new inner liner technology claimed to “substantially improve” the capability to maintain air pressure in truck and bus tires. The company cites test results showing a reduction of natural air leakage by about 30% compared with conventional liners, which it says could enable lighter tires to be specified.
The new inner liner technology is being applied to tires manufactured at Japanese plants from April 2013. It will gradually be introduced at plants overseas.
Yokohama's new inner liner uses "flat talc" – a particulate talc in planar shapes - embedded in the rubber in multiple layers. The flat talc blocks the permeation of air through the rubber.
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