Bridgestone Tyres are moving closer to the release of their “3rd Generation Run-Flat Tyres” or “3G RFT“. While run-flat tyres are designed with safety as a priority, they have a reputation for making the ride quality overly firm and uncomfortable due to the reinforced tyre sidewall. This has led many drivers to replace their run-flat tyres with conventional tyres.
BRIDGESTONE 3G RFT UPDATE (16th July 2010)
Bridgestone claim that their latest 3rd generation run-flat tyres offer the same level of safety as previous run-flat tyres with vastly increased ride quality thanks to a tyre sidewall only 5% stiffer than a conventional tyre.
The key to reducing sidewall stiffness lies within “Heat Control”. When tyres are run at reduced or zero pressure, the friction on the distorted sidewall rapidly generates heat which can quickly destroy a tyre. Bridgestone Tyres have implemented three new technologies that reduce the heat generated by a tyre under run-flat conditions.
A new sidewall reinforced rubber reduces heat by 50% compared to previous run-flat tyres. Bridgestone have adopted “NanoPro-Tech” which reduces the friction that occurs between carbon molecules in the sidewall rubber which reduces heat build up. This allows for a softer tyre sidewall.
A “New Ply” fibre reduces tyre sidewall deformation by contracting as any heat builds up. This contraction of the tyre sidewall reduces deformation and prevents a rapid increase in temperature.
Protrusions in the tyre sidewall known as “Cooling Fins” create disturbances in the air flow around a tyre causing heat in the tyre sidewall to be reduced when driving on tyres that have zero pressure.
Tyre manufacturers are hoping this new run-flat technology will allow run-flat tyres to be produced in tyre sizes that have previously proved problematic increasing the safety for drivers across a broader range of vehicles.
Bridgestone have yet to confirm release dates and sizes for their 3rd generation run-flat tyres although they were hoping to launch them towards the end of 2009.
