Tyre Technology

3 Technologies That Are Changing the Way Road Tyres Perform

If you follow any type of motorsport you'll no doubt be aware of the impact different tyre technologies have on race vehicle performance. Tyre manufacturers work closely with race teams to develop tyres that work to exacting specifications. They invest heavily in exploring new tyre technologies and often adapt that knowledge to make better road tyres for the motoring public.

Here are three tyre technologies that are now filtering down to road cars from the motorsport world.

Run Flat Tyres: Imagine being able to drive normally with a punctured tyre. It's possible if you have run flat tyres fitted to your vehicle. There are two types – tyres with reinforced sidewalls that support the weight of your vehicle when the tyre deflates; and tyres that have rim clips fitted to them to prevent your wheel rim from piercing the rubber on deflation.

Run flat tyres from leading manufacturers can keep your vehicle running at up to 50mph over a 100-mile range.

Low Rolling Resistance Tyres: Many of us already know that an underinflated tyre may cause increased fuel consumption on a journey. But do you know that the amount of energy your tyre absorbs when in contact with the road affects fuel consumption too? Low rolling resistance tyres have been developed to minimise the amount of energy absorbed, helping you go further with less fuel.

Nitrogen-Filled Tyres: The air we pump into our tyres is often the same air we breathe. It consists of 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. The problem with oxygen is that it is good at permeating through your tyre rubber. This means that over time your tyre gradually deflates and so you need to pump it up again.

By filling tyres with a higher concentration of nitrogen, there is less oxygen to leak out and so your tyres should stay at the correct inflation pressure for longer.