Falken creates new energy efficient tire

ERJ staff report (TP)

Tokyo − Tire engineers in Japan have for the first time, employed a super computer normally used for climate simulation, together with the SPring-8 Materials Research Centre and its synchrotron radiation facility, to create a new energy efficient tire, reported Gerald Ferreira for 3D Car Shows.

These simulation tools, offering the ability to analyse at sub nano level, the effects of compound and construction, form part of Falken’s new 4D NANO Design process. 4D NANO Design has enabled Falken to develop the Sincera SN832 ECORUN tire with a 22 percent reduction in rolling resistance compared to its predecessor. A further 27 percent reduction in braking distances has led to the new tire receiving an A rating for wet weather grip, becoming the first Falken tire to achieve the highest grade.

By combining the SPring-8 materials research centre and its synchrotron radiation technology, and the Japanese government’s Earth Simulator super computer to simulate the real world conditions that a tire experiences − Falken was able to identify how and where heat would be generated and how to minimise it.

“To create a step performance gain in a tire is not easy,” said Markus Bogner, sales and marketing director, Falken Tyre Europe, GmbH. “Being part of Sumitomo Rubber Industries … Falken can access some of the best innovations out there. The four key areas of the 4D NANO DESIGN; Research, Simulate, Extraction and Performance feed into our materials development and simulation process and use some of the most powerful research and simulation tools on the planet. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.”

The Sincera SN832 ECORUN will be available from spring, initially in 19 dimensions across 13”-15” sizes and a T speed rating.

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