Bridgestone Targets Sporty Drivers with New Potenza RE050
The Dunlop SP Sport 01: The Science of Silence
Avon Launches New Car and Bike Tyre Brochures
Bridgestone Holds UK Launch of Truck Tyre Safety Technology
New Alloy Wheel Protection for Mille Miglia's 2003 Collection
New SP442 Regional Drive Axle Tyre
New Anti-Splash Technology from Michelin

Bridgestone Targets Sporty Drivers with New Potenza RE050

Focusing for the first time on the driver rather than just the vehicle, Bridgestone unveiled the new ultra high-performance Potenza RE050 at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show. The tyre is specially designed for sporty drivers; a significant group of motorists who want handling and responsiveness paired with, for sports-car drivers, an acceptable level of comfort when they get behind the wheel. Available in a wide range of sizes with run-flat technology, this new-generation ultra high-performance tyre will play a key role in developing Bridgestone's strong position in the premium tyre segment - both for factory fitments and the growing "sporty" replacement market.

Modelled on Bridgestone's Formula One slick-tyre (grooved) technology, the RE050 features an asymmetric outer pattern with large blocks, producing higher stiffness, to ensure superior handling and road-holding and a larger contact area for cornering performance. The specially reinforced tie-bar rib provides extra rigidity for cornering control, while the straight semi-slick centre adds control and steering response for straight-line stability.

The Potenza RE050 also provides rapid water evacuation, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and assuring maximum road contact. This is provided by specially-shaped blocks, which evacuate water away from the rib contact patch into the four main asymmetrical grooves. These wide longitudinal grooves then evacuate the water in the natural flow direction as the tyre rotates, whilst racing car nose-shaped block edges reduce water turbulence. Even at higher speeds in wet, the RE050's contact patch remains clearer, with more grip on the road.

The Potenza RE050 is initially available in the replacement market in 32 sizes, for front and rear fitment, and will be distributed across Europe as from June 2003. The tyre will provide top level sporty handling and wet safety for a wide range of cars driven by sporty drivers.

The Dunlop SP Sport 01: The Science of Silence

Dunlop Tyres have announced the launch of the new SP Sport 01 tyre, which has been specifically designed to reduce noise emissions, delivering exceptional levels of driver comfort without sacrificing key performance parameters such as aquaplaning safety and improved stability.

Drawing on the latest in tyre technology, Dunlop has developed an asymmetrical tri-area tread pattern for the tyre, comprising of three different arrangements, each achieving an important aspect of the tyre specification - the i) Hydro Paddle Block Design, ii) the Longitudinal Rail System and iii) the Parallelogram Block Design.

The Hydro Paddle Block Design incorporates longitudinal grooves without cross cuts, resulting in a turbine-like water ejection that is completely free of turbulence. In the centre of the tyre is the Longitudinal Rail System, which provides a high level of stability and optimal steering. The asymmetric tread system is once again pivotal, improving pressure distribution in the outer shoulder area as well as delivering stability on bends. In order to reduce noise emission, the Parallelogram Block Design is a closed and slip-reduced outer shoulder structure that reduces the emission of disturbing sound frequencies.

The juxtaposition of these three separate arrangements constitutes a unique 'chaotic pitch arrangement' ie. a lack of tread pattern uniformity that means the noise frequencies are altogether less intrusive and the whole noise level intensity is significantly diminished. This occurs outside the car, but most importantly inside - so if you have a great stereo SP Sport 01 lets you hear it.

In addition to these features, the SP Sport 01 is also manufactured using a brand new silica compound, developed through an optimised mixing process. In contrast to a conventional silica mixture, the new compound means a smoother, more even dispersion of silica across the tyre. Compared to tyres using conventional silica mixtures the new silica used in SP Sport 01 gives wet and dry grip handling and braking performance along with tread durability and low rolling resistance.

Avon Launches New Car and Bike Tyre Brochures

Avon has launched a series of new look brochures for the company's car, off-road, van, trailer, motorcycle and sidecar tyre ranges. With a dynamic photographic style that emphasises the brand's high performance and high quality attributes, the brochures were shot on location in Switzerland, Italy and around the UK. Most of the shots were taken by British automotive photographer, David Shepherd.

Rather than dwell on the practical details of what many customers perceive as a distress purchase, the new Avon brochure focuses on the positive emotional aspects of buying top notch tyres, accentuating an "emotional" approach with a series of short stories relating to the range in question.

Commenting on the new brochures, David Carson, Cooper-Avon Tyres' European Brand Manager said: "Our latest brochures reflect the direction in which the Avon brand is heading - they're chic, high quality and dynamic. By creating sales literature that doesn't merely present you with pictures of tyres, we're hoping that our potential customers won't immediately consign their borochure to the bin, but might leave it around for friends to read".

Bridgestone Holds UK Launch of Truck Tyre Safety Technology

The UK launch of Bridgestone's new tyre safety system for truck tyres took place at the Commercial Vehicle Show during March. The new system, called Aircept, has been developed for Bridgestone's Greatec line of truck tyres. Examples of the tyres and a video demonstrating the safety system, were exhibited at the Bridgestone stand.

Bridgestone recently launched the Greatec line as ultra low aspect ratio tyres to replace dual drive tyres on trucks and buses with single tyres. Greatec tyres are claimed to improve fuel economy because the Greatec tyre and rim weighs less than two conventional tyres and rims.

Basically, Aircept fits around the rim inside a Greatec tyre and is inflated at a 0.5 bar pressure differential thanks to a single valve system. A sudden loss of pressure in the tyre allows Aircept to expand and support the load on the tyre. By the time a total loss of pressure has occurred, Aircept has expanded to fill the entire interior of the tyre and supports the load on the tyre. Aircept operates in conjunction with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

New Alloy Wheel Protection for Mille Miglia's 2003 Collection

Mille Miglia, the Italian alloy wheel manufacturer, is now offering an effective method of maintaining the new look of their alloy wheels. The full range of Mille Miglia's 2003 wheel collection can be purchased pre-treated with Metalmate AQ, a polymer coating that is extremely effective in protecting against build up of brake dust and road grime.

Unlike wax or polish, the polymer coating remains permanently bonded onto the wheels and makes them easy to clean using a wet cloth or sponge with no need for arduous and expensive cleaning methods. The coating is completely transparent and therefore on no way detracts from the appearance of Mille Miglia's wheel designs. Car washes do not damage the system. The quality of the polymer coating means that the protection will remain active for the life of the wheel. An aftercare kit (for use by the driver) is supplied to rejuvenate the coating periodically, as it may become impaired by harsh abrasion (collision with road kerbs etc.) The Metalmate AQ coating and aftercare kit adds £40 to the retail price of a set of 4 Mille Miglia wheels.

New SP442 Regional Drive Axle Tyre

Released for full market availability during March, the new SP442 drive axle tyre was the star of Dunlop's stand at thCommercial Vehicle Show SP442, which replaces the SP431, is a "regional" tyre, designed first and foremost to meet the demands of the widest variety of national UK haulage and distribution work. In its dedicated drive axle application, SP 442 is therefore equally suited to fitting to an 18 tonne gvw rigid or a 44 tonnes gcw artic.

The main features of the new tyre have, therefore, been designed to answer a wide range of operating requirements. Firstly, SP442's generous 24mm tread depth provides for a very high mileage return under a wide variety of operating conditions. Then, SP442's new open block tread pattern has been designed to deliver exceptional traction and grip, especially in wet and winter conditions. This open block design offers another benefit too - a very high resistance to stone trapping which, in conjunction with a new ultra-tough tread compound, greatly reduces the potential for incidental damage and cutting.

SP 442's tread compound has also been designed for lower hysteresis and cooler running, properties that significantly reduce rolling resistance to the benefit of the truck's fuel economy. Now available in 295/80 R 22.5, 315/80 R 22.5 and 12 R 22.5 sizes, the new tyre will also be offered in 275/70 R 22.5 and 315/70 R 22.5 sizes before the end of the year.

New Anti-Splash Technology from Michelin

During the Commercial Vehicle Show Michelin offered visitors an opportunity to preview its new Anti-Splash Energy tyre. The Anti-Splash Energy tyre will differ from all others as it has been designed to dramatically reduce the projection of high water (often referred to as 'splash') from the sides of the front axle tyres.

Official tests conducted by Michelin have shown the new Anti-Splash Energy tyres are so effective that water projections could be up to four times lower than those of a standard truck tyre.

"The reduction in splash is made possible by the introduction of a deflector into the tyre's design, which comprises of a small horizontal rib outboard of the tread on the outside of the tyre, which is sufficient enough to deflect the splash stream back down to the road surface rather than up," explains Truck Product Marketing Manager Paul Kendrick. "This has a huge impact on rear-view mirror visibility for the truck driver, whilst also making it safer for motorists overtaking trucks on wet roads," he adds.

The Anti-Splash Energy tyre (385/55 R22.5 XFA2 Energy) is based on a design which was originally developed by Michelin for aviation use, a concept which used a rubber deflector located where the tread band meets the sidewall, suppressing the water projection caused by the tyre.