INTRODUCTION AND ADVANCEMENT IN TYRE TECHNOLOGY A SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted by

ABHINAV KUMAR TYAGI

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

B.TECH
IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AJAY KUMAR GARG ENGINEERING COLLEGE ,GHAZIABAD

MAHAMAYA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY,NOIDA

AUGUST 2013

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

cccCertified that this seminar report INTRODUCTION AND ADVANCEMENT IN TYRE TECHNOLOGY is a bonafied work of Abhinav Kumar Tyagi who carried out the seminar work under my supervision .

(prof. I.P.Sharma) HEAD Deptt. Of Mechanical Engineering, Ajay Kumar Garg Engg. College, Ghaziabad 201009 Uttar Pradesh India

(MR. Devendra Singh) SUPERVISOR Associate Professor Deptt. Of Mechanical Engineering, Ajay Kumar Garg Engg. College, Ghaziabad 201009 Uttar Pradesh India

TABLE OF CONTENT
NO. TITTLE PAGE NO. ABSTRACT LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF SYMBOLS INTRODUCTION.. 1

1. 2

Abstract Tyres seems to be one of the most important invention of humans and this invention has move the civilization of humans to a very great extent . Now traction property of tyres helps in moving very heavy materials at very high speed with great ease . Previously or now in some cars still air tube is used which has a great disadvantage of busting on getting punctured . But with the invention of tubeless tyres , this problem has been solved to a great extent,as in tubeless tyres air leaks out at a very slow rate . Also in place of air nitrogen gas is used as it dry inert gas and comes out three times slower than oxygen . Man has also moved the tyres on other planets also . NASA recently made tyres in which there is no fear of puncture which is known as SPRING TYRE TECHNOLOGY. US also used airless tyres in the attack over IRAQ , where they face the problem of getting their tyres hit by the enemy . Above this technology in future their will be intelligent tyres equipped with

electromagnetic system , and will tilt itself according to the road with safety. Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION AND ADVANCEMENT IN TYRE TECHNOLOGY

BY:ABHINAVKR.TY GI ME-G 1140064

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF TYRES COMPOSITION IN TYRES CAUSE FOR THE BLACKNESS OF TYRE KNOWN PRODUCERS OF TYRES IN THE WORLD TYRES CONFIGURATION THREAD PATTERN IN TYRES PARTS OF A TYRE TYRE CONSTRUCTION TYPES OF TYRES RECENT TYRE TECHNOLOGIES APPLICATION OF TYRE TECHNOLOGIES GLIMPSE OF FUTURE TYRES

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
TYRE
Tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel's rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance. Most tires, such as those for automobiles and bicycles, provide traction between the vehicle and the road while providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock.

HISTORY OF TYRES

The first true tyre as we now know it was invented in 1846 by the Scot inventor Robert William Thompson , when he fitted an air-filled tube inside a hollow rubber tyre. He fitted his aerial wheels to several horsedrawn carriages in Londons Hyde Park greatly improving the comfort oftravel and reducing the noise. One set ran for

1200 miles without any sign of wear and tear.In 1888 John Boyd Dunlop also invented the pneumatic tyre and applied it to a bicycle, which he duly patented only to be rejected because of Thompsons legitimate patent 43 years before.The earliest tires were bands of iron (later steel), placedon wooden wheels, used on carts and wagons. The tire would be heated in a forge fire, placed over the wheel and quenched, causing the metal to contract and fit tightly on the wheel. A skilled worker, known as awheelwright, carried out this work. The outer ring served to "tie" the wheel segments together for use, providing also a wear-resistant surface to the perimeter of the wheel. The first practical pneumatic tire was made by Scottish inventor John Boyd Dunlop while working as a veterinarian in May Street,Belfast in 1887 for his

son's bicycle, in an effort to prevent the headaches his son had while riding on rough roads (Dunlop's patent was later declared invalid because of prior art by fellow Scot Robert William Thomson). Dunlop is credited with "realizing rubber could withstand the wear and tear of being a tire while retaining its resilience".[4] The development of this technology hinges on myriad engineering advances. In terms of materials, the vulcanization of natural rubber is credited to Charles Goodyear and Robert William. Synthetic rubbers were invented in the laboratoriesof Bayer in the, 1920s Today, over 1 billion tiresare produced annually in over 400 tire factories

COMPOSITION IN TYRES

Raw Rubber Steel Nylon Polyester Rayon Carbon Black Synthetic Rubber

CAUSE FOR THE BLACKNESS OF TYRE

Mostly the colour of the tyres are kept black , this is done in order to protect the tyres from harmfull UV rays . In order to protect the tyre , a common type of UV stabilizer called COMPETITIVE ABSORBER IS added , which absorb these harmful UV light wave energy

TOP 5 PRODUCER OF TYRES IN THE WORLD

1. Michelin

The first thing that comes to peoples mind about Michelin is the marshmallow man. On top of that , Michelin is the worlds largest tire manufacturing company. Michelin is based in Auvergne, France and it has been in business since 1888. Michelin has been producing high quality tires and it has an outstanding reputation in producing high quality tires. What is interesting is that Michelin is the only tire

supplier for NASAs space shuttles. Also, Michelin tires

are used in Concorde, F22 Stealth Fighter jets, B2 Stealth Bomber, and in various race cars. Top quality and confidence is the strengths of Michelin. Some of the popular tire lines include the all-season Energy, longlasting HydroEdge, all-season Harmony, all-season performance Pilot, X-Ice and X-Ice Xi2 winter tires. On the down side, Michelin tires tend to be more expensive compared to other brands.

2. Bridgestone

Bridgestone is manufacturing Bridgestone performance is

worlds

second

largest

tire

company. Based in Fukuoka, Japan since 1931, focused on producing high

tires such as the Potenza summer tires and the famous Blizzak winter performance tires. Many of the luxury cars such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz,

Porsche, and Ferrari are equipped with factory

installed tires made by Bridgestone. Bridgestone has been supplyingtires in Formula One racing since 1997. In 1988Bridgestone purchased Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, which used to be an American company based in Tennessee . 3. Goodyear Goodyear is the third largest tire company in the world. The company was named after Charles Goodyear , who invented the vulcanized rubber back in 1925 . Goodyear got famous from its innovative market strategythrough the Goodyear blimp. Goodyear was

founded in1898 in Ohio, America. The tire company is

recognized asone of the most respected companies in America in 2008 ranked by the Forbes magazine. Goodyear produces awide range of tires such as the popular all-season Integrity, the Eagle series summer performance tires, andtheNordic winter tire. Goodyear is the official tire supplier for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) for dragracing. Goodyear owns other tire companies including Dunlop, Kelly Tires, Sava, and Fulda.

4. Continental Founded in 1871, Continental is based in Hanover , Germany. It is the fourth worlds largest tire manufacturing company in the world. Continental also manufactures other automotive components such as brake systems and vehicle stability systems. In order to enter the North American market, Continental Tire purchased General Tire in 1987. To increase its market

presence, Continental has become an official sponsor ofthe 2010 FIFA World Cup. Continentals product line includes the all-season ExtremeContact series, the SportContact summer performance series, and the TS and WinterContact winter series

5. Pirelli Last but not least, Pirelli is the worlds fifth largest tire manufacturing company in the world. Its headquarter is based in Milan, Italy and it was founded since 1872. Pirellihas placed most emphasis on producing high performance and ultra high tires such as the PZero series, which is factory installed on Lamborghini

Gallardo LP 560 and Murcielago LP 640 supercars.

Pirellis winter Sottozero Serie II has received a lot of great reviews from various tire tests.

TYPES CONFIGURATION

What Do The Numbers on The Sidewall Actually Mean?

Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio is essentially a measure of how tall your tire is. The larger the number, the taller the tire. The number is calculated by dividing the height of the tire by it's width, then turning the result into a percentage. Your typical all-season passenger car tire will have an aspect ratio somewhere between 65 and 80.

Load index: Your tire's load index lets you know how much weight the tire was designed to carry safely. By using the load index chart displayed below, you can match the rating up with the number of pounds the tire

can support when it is inflated to its maximum air pressure. For example, if your load rating is 81, you can then determine that the tire was engineered to carry 1,019 pounds when fully inflated. Multiply this weight by four to find out the maximum carrying capacity for your vehicle. When buying aftermarket or replacement tires, it's important to find a model that matches the load index that was on the original equipment

Speed rating :- The speed rating is a number issued by the U.S. government which signifies how well a tire can reach and maintain a certain speed. Speed ratings are simply letters which correspond to a specific top speed. Keep in mind that these are not recommended speeds to drive at, but simply a way to get a better idea of how well the tire will handle (tires with a hire speed rating are likely to provide better traction and handling). When buying new tires, always choose 4 tires with identical speed ratings. Mixing up the specifications on your tires will result in serious and unsafe driving conditions. It's also not recommended that you downgrade the speed rating on your tires. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines and buy tires with ratings that are identical to the original stock equipment.

Aspect Ratio

So if we have a P205/60R15 tire The width is 205 millimeters and

the height is 60% of the width . That means 205 x .6 = 123 millimeters.

That tire should millimeters tall.

be

123

THREAD PATTERN IN TYRES

Tread is a rubber on the main surface of tyre which has direct contact with the terrain. On the other hand, Pattern is a design which is cut into the rubber and it helps to create traction between tyre and road

. Therefore, tread is referred to the rubber and not the design.Depending upon various factors, such as usage frequency and type of terrain on which a vehicle is driven, the tread can eventually give up which later typically causes less effective braking

and tractionforce. It is highly recommended to replace the tyres as soon as you sense the signs of their balding, also, legally the depth of tread should be at least 1.6 MM. One may, however, never be penalized for violation of this rule but its made for the safety of your own and other innocent road users out there. You will find a huge variety of tyres available of different sizes and tread designs in the market. Here, choosing the correct tread pattern can certainly make a big difference when it comes to tyre speed rating and stability. So, its important to become familiar withsome of the primary types of tread patterns as described below.

Symmetric Tyre Tread Pattern

Symmetric tread design can be commonly seen on the tyres of many cars. As their name itself indicates, symmetrical pattern refers to those treads which feature similar continuous design across the tread on either sides of tyre. Tyres with this type of pattern are normally nondirectional, meaning that they can be fitted without worrying about a specific rotational direction

 Asymmetric Tyre Tread Pattern

Exactly opposite to the symmetric tread pattern asymmetric tyre treads feature dissimilar designs on both the sides. This discrepancy in their design allows better grip on flat out roads and also while making turns. Generally, the outer area of such tyres has broad design where as the inner carries smaller independent tread blocks, as seen on symmetric design.

Unidirectional Tyre Tread

Pattern

The unidirectional (also known as directional) tread patterns are made to perform well when fitted on a specified direction, this direction is generally marked with help of an arrow on the sidewalls. This type of tyres have V shaped tread design which helps increasing aquaplaning resistance when the vehicle is running on high speeds, by efficiently cutting it through this unique pattern.

PARTS OF TYRES

Beads

Two rings that are made of steel wire and encased in rubber.They hold tire side walls snugly against the rim

Body Plies

It is rubberized fabric and cords which is wrapped around beads.and form body of the tire.

Tread

 outer surface of the tire that contacts the road

Sidewall

outer part of the tire that extends from the bead to the tread. Marking on the sidewall provides the information about the tire.

Liner

 thin layer of rubber that is bonded to the inside of the plies. It provides a leak proof

membrane for tubeless tires

Tire Construction

I. Bias Ply Tires

Still used today in some applications for trucks, trailers and farm implements, as well as in emerging markets, bias tires have body ply cords that are laid at angles substantially less than 90

to the tread centerline, extending from bead to bead .

Advantages :- Simple construction and ease of manufacture. Disadvantages :- As the tire deflects, shear occurs between body plies which generates heat. Tread motion also results in poor wear characteristics

I. Belted Bias Tire

Belted bias tires, as the name implies, are bias tires with belts (also known as breaker plies) added in the tread region. Belts restrict expansion of the body carcass in the circumferential direction, strengthening and stabilizing the tread region (see Figure 1.1).

Advantages :- Improved wear and handling due to added stiffness in the tread area . Disadvantages :- Body ply shear during deflection generates heat; higher material and manufacturing cost

I. Radial Ply Tire

Radial tires have body ply cords that are laid radially from bead to bead, nominally at 90 to the centerline of the tread. Two or more belts are laid diagonally in the tread region to add strength and stability. Variations of this tire construction are used in modern passenger vehicle tire). Advantages :- Radial body cords deflect more easily under load, thus they generate less heat, give lower rolling resistance and better high-speed

performance. Increased tread stiffness from the belt significantly improves wear and handling. Disadvantages :- Complex construction increases material and manufacturing costs and also produce a harder , or harsher , ride at low speed

TYPES OF TYRES

Performance

Tyres

Performance tyres are designed for sports cars or for drivers who want a combination of sporty appearance, good performance at high speed along with durability and great dry and wet traction. These tyres are intended to be used in sports cars, sporty coupes and performance sedans. The circumferential grooves enable water dissipation and give the best resistance to aquaplaning. These tyres are available in different speed ratings ranging from H to W/Y. If it is a H rated tyre it is Standard Performance, V-Rated High Performance and W/Y - Ultra High

Performance tyres. These tyres are available with symmetric, asymmetric and directional tread patterns. These tyres cannot be used in freezing temperatures, like in snow.

Standard Summer Tyres

Standard summer tyres are designed for standard cars or for drivers who want enhanced durability, better handling along with good dry and wet traction. These tyres are usually meant for small and compact cars which have a limited speed capacity (usually up to H rating). These tyres are designed with all the necessary performance characteristics in mind. These tyres in general have strong casing and durable construction, so the tyre performs well in loaded conditions too. These tyres can be used in all seasons except in snow. Standard summer tyres are available to fit rim diameters from 12 to 16 inches. These tyres have in general symmetric tread patterns but asymmetric designs are also available.

All Weather Tyres

All season tyres are designed for full-size sedans, mini cargo vans and crossover utility vehicles. The tyre design combines durability, fuel efficiency, ride comfort and all-season traction including occasional light snow. The tyre has excellent handling characteristics that are ideal for driving in summer conditions on dry and wet roads. At the same time, the tyre offers perfect grip and high dispersal capacity in winter conditions. Independent tread blocks enhance aquaplaning resistance and a rib pattern gives a quiet and comfortable ride. The asymmetric tyre has in itself both winter and summer pattern in it so it performs equally well in both conditions. These tyres are suitable where the weather conditions rapidly change and the driver need not change his tyres frequently depending on the weather.

 Winter Tyres

Winter tyres are designed to meet challenging winter conditions. These tyres are intended for use in extreme winter conditions with snow. These tyres enable high-speed driving on highways and good traction on snow-covered roads. Tyre sizes are available in a wide range of sizes for small and compact cars, sedans, minivans, crossovers and sports utility vehicles in different speed categories. Wet grip and traction is of prime importance in these tyres which are enabled with special silica compounds. The numerous thin grooves called sipes in the tread enables excellent grip and stability when accelerating and braking. These tyres have directional tread patterns

 SUV Tyres
.

SUV tyres are designed for sports utility vehicles. These tyres have a unique combination of sporty performance and luxury looks. These tyres are meant for drivers who want heavy-duty load capacity, even wear and low noise along with good traction on dry and wet roads. These tyres have robust construction, which gives the tyre a higher load capacity making it ideal for heavy SUVs. These tyres are able to perform well on all kind of road surfaces like highways, streets, etc. These tyres have excellent grip and braking so safety is ensured. The tread pattern is designed to

have excellent water dissipation, and a wider tread enables good traction.

Wet Weather Tyres

These tyres need to get up to a certain temperature to grip well. They are the best tyres for rainy weather. The treads are designed to diffuse the maximum amount of water so that grip is not compromised in the wet.

All Terrain/Mud & Snow Tyres

Mud & Snow/All Terrain tyres are designed for vehicles which operate both on and off the road.

These tyres have an aggressive and sporty look which matches the vehicle. These tyres have a combination of customary on-road capacity, enhanced off road capabilities and all-season versatility including traction in light snow. The block tread pattern provides excellent grip and traction on road and in terrain. Specially designed grooves provide good traction in mud and slush, and gravel roads. The circumferential and lateral grooves channel out mud and slush, helping these tyres have the same capability off road as they do on road. These tyres are branded with an M+S symbol to indicate their all-season ability. All terrain tyres are used for light and medium-duty 4WD trucks, pickups and sports utility vehicles .

Cargo Tyres

Cargo tyres are for small commercial vehicles (SCV) which are used for load-carrying operations and people-movers like the Tata Ace, Piaggio Ape Truk and Mahindra Gio. These are for vehicles with small wheel diameters. These tyres have treads with specially designed tread compounds to

enable cooler running and lower resistance. These tyres are able to perform well on all kind of road surfaces like highways, surface streets, etc. The design of the tyre also ensures better grip, good handling and comfort.

Van Tyres

Van tyres are for vehicles which are used primarily for load-carrying and passenger ferrying operations (Commercial Light Truck/LCV). As the application demands these tyres are very robust in construction to enable durable performance. These tyres are fitted in vehicles with low speed capability when compared to a passenger car but high load carrying capacity. The rib pattern provides directional stability on all kind of roads. The wide and continuous shoulder grooves enable uniform wear and superior fuel efficiency. Interconnected ribs provide better stability at high

speeds and prevent uneven wear. These tyres have treads with specially designed tread compounds to enable cooler running and lower resistance.
.

RECENT TECHNOLOGIES

TYRE

Tube-Type Tyres

Tube-type or tubed tyres have an inner tube between the rim and the tyre, which holds the air under pressure. . The tube inside the tyre is filled with air and inflated to allow tyres to support a vehicles weight and maintain the shape of a tyre. .

Tubeless Tyres

Tubeless tyres don't have tubes. Air is retained thanks to an airtight seal between tyre and rim, and the valve hole in the rim is sealed with a special tubeless valve. Here the inner liner of the tyre is made of butyl rubber, which resists air

leakage from the tyre due to its low air permeability property. Each tubeless tyre has a "TUBELESS" engraved marking. If this marking is not present on the tyre, it is a tube-type tyre and must be fitted with a tube only. Never use a tube-type tyre without tube. This will lead to frequent loss of air through the tyre because the tubeless inner liner is absent, which further deteriorates the integrity of the tyre structure.

Advantage of tubeless tyre over tube-type tyre

Slower rate of deflation

 Less chances of loss of control = Greater safety No sudden loss of air = Journey can continue Lighter wheel assembly, means: o Less vibrations = Better comfort o Lower rolling resistance = Better fuel efficiency Sidewall is more supple as there is no inner body to create friction o More comfortable ride Less friction since tube is not there o Cooler running = Longer tyre life

MODIFICATION

Nitrogen Filling Nitrogen has been used for decades in the tyres of airplanes, as well as in motorsport. Nitrogen is an inert gas and remains in the gaseous state at very low temperatures and so it doesn't liquefy at high altitude where temperatures ranges close to -40 degrees Celsius. Since nitrogen doesn't freeze at those

temperatures, it doesn't cause any issues when an aircraft lands. Now, even some passenger cars use nitrogen to inflate their tyres. Nitrogen is used because: Nitrogen is a dry inert gas. That means moisture free. Nitrogen leaks out of the sidewall three times slower then oxygen. Oxygen oxidizes the rubber in the sidewall. Plus the moisture in the air will rust the steel rims

Alloy Wheels Most passenger cars are equipped with steel rims. These rims are heavy and hence increase the weight of the wheeltyre combination. Alloy wheels are lighter and look better than regular rims and wheel caps, making your car look more attractive. . Studies have shown that alloys have a greater inclination to undergo corrosion resulting in the leakage of air. The one advantage that the alloys wheels have is that they can be repaired regardless of the damage.

Non-pneumatic tires (NPT)

OR Airless tyres

Non-pneumatic tires (NPT), or Airless tires, are tires that are not supported by air pressure. They are used on some small vehicles such as riding lawn mowers and motorized golf carts. They are also used on heavy equipment such as backhoes, which are required to operate on sites such as building demolition, where tire punctures are likely. Tires composed of closed-cell polyurethane foam are also made for bicycles and wheelchairs. The main advantage of airless tires is that they cannot go flat, but they are far less common than air filled tires. Airless tires generally have higher rolling resistance and provide much less suspension than similarly shaped and sized pneumatic tires. Other

problems for airless tires include dissipating the heat buildup that occurs when

they are driven. Airless tires are often filled with compressed polymers (plastic), rather than air. Michelin is currently developing an integrated tire and wheel combination, the "Tweel" (derived from "tire" and "wheel," which, as the name "Tweel" suggests, are combined into one new, fused part), that operates entirely without air. Michelin claims its "Tweel" has load carrying, shock absorbing, and handling characteristics that compare favorably to conventional pneumatic tires. Automotive engineering group of mechanical engineering department at Clemson University is developing a low energy loss airless tire with Michelin through the NIST ATP project.

Resilient Technologies and the University of WisconsinMadison's Polymer Engineering Center are creating a "non-pneumatic tire", which is basically a round polymeric honeycomb wrapped with a thick, black tread. The initial version of the tire is for the Humvee and is expected to be available in 2012.[1][2] Resilient Technologies airless tires have been tested and are used by the U.S. Army.[3] Bridgestone is developing the Air-Free Concept Tyre which is similar to the Tweel and can hold 150 kgs per tire.[4] The Energy Return Wheel has the outer edge of the tire connected to the inner rim by a system of springs. The springs can have their tension changed to vary the handling characteristics

NASA SPRING TYRE TECHNOLOGY

The spring tyre technology has been developed and by Goodyear and NASA (The National Space Aeronautics and Space Administration) together. These are energy efficient tyres that will not go flat, have been made up of springs and can carry heavy loads too

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of Akron, OH and the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, OH under the direction of Vivake Asnani recently completed a jointly funded project to improve upon the wire mesh Moon tire technology developed for the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle in the early 1970s. The purpose was to support new heavier lunar vehicles that will travel much longer distances, thus

making the technology more practical for use on Earth. The original tire used a mesh of wire and did not require air or rubber in order to operate on the Moon. The project team modified this technology, creating what is known as the "Spring Tire." The spring tire meets the new requirements and has the additional benefit of consuming a negligible amount of energy. The national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) joined forces with goodyear to develop an airless tire to be used on extra-terrestrial surfaces. the 'spring tire' features 800 load bearing springs and is designed to carry heavy vehicles over much greater distances than the wire mesh tire used on the apollo lunar roving vehicle. It's able to withstand the sharp temperature differences of outer space and will not blow out if it is punctured. should a puncture occur, it would affect only one or a

few of the 800 load bearing springs

COMMERCIAL APPLICATION
Tires for passenger vehicles to avoid puncture failure and save energy. Tires that conform to rough terrain and operate reliably in remote and hostile

locations. Applications include military mining and trash hauling vehicles.

Social/Economic Benefit

Reduced fuel consumption in vehicles, reducing cost and emissions

Improved safety of passenger vehicles.

Improved mobility, ride, and maintenance for off- road vehicles

NASA APPLICATION

The NASA Glenn Research Center is now on an innovative path, producing tires for lunar exploration and construction vehicles. Spring tires were installed on NASAs Lunar Electric Rover test vehicle and was tested successfully at the Johnson Space Center Rock Yard in Houston, where it performed successfully. This success shows there is a great possibility for future missions to the moon and Mars.

GLIMPSE OF FUTURE TYRES

Tiltread Dynamic Tires

Designed by Ben Zavala, the Tiltread is a resilient, non-pneumatic tire designed to prevent blowouts. The maximized contact ratio and dispersion of surface

tension by tilting system designed to provide dynamic but stable cornering. A revolution of the sport tire, Tiltread is designed to provide more dynamic cornering ability through the use of non-pneumatic and Tilt Tire Technology with the addition of unnecessary tread wear.

Motiv Off Road Tyre

Designed by Mark Hearn, the Motiv off-road tire features numerous variable tread blocks that move and adapt to the driving surface beneath to help provide an exhilarating adventure. The variable tread contact patch and non-pneumatic technology provide a tire design that's intended to adapt to extreme conditions without the risk of blowing out.

eMembrane Optional Friction Variable Tread (HYBRID TYRE)

The eMembrane (above left) by Scott Lenkowsky might just be the world's smartest hybrid tire. Desgined to not only provide a tire that offers excellent fuel efficiency, but excellent grip for spirited performance, it boasts two modes. In Full Grip mode, eMembrane is designed to increase its contact patch size to provide excellent grip and cornering ability. In Fuel Efficiency mode, the tire reduces its total contact patch size, thus improving rolling resistance and vehicle fuel efficiency.

Mag-Trac

Richard Byrne's Mag-Trac (above right) features an independent wheel/hub assembly designed to offer excellent ride comfort. Empty space generated through the use of magnetic field technology separates the vehicle's wheel and hub, allowing for a more comfortable and quiet ride. This intelligent tire of the future looks to make driving on air possible.