In the world of technology and innovation, a month is a lifetime. Never has there been such a pace of improvement in virtually every area of society and this is certainly the case in the field of automotive development. Take tyres for example. This is a hotbed of innovation and is a very competitive industry. Consequently, if you haven't bought a new set recently, you may be missing out on considerable enhancements. How are engineers working to make your life better and safer on the road?

Addressing Tyre Noise

Years ago, it used to be quite difficult to carry out a normal conversation inside the car due to external noise. Vehicle designers have nevertheless worked hard to create a more streamlined body with less wind resistance, and this has made a big difference. However, road noise transmitted through the wheels and tyres would still be contributory.

Constant Development

Today, engineers have largely eliminated this from the latest tyre designs by adapting both the outside and the inside of the product. These innovations are particularly important as the car industry moves closer to hybrid and electric drive trains, which will be inherently quieter.

External Resistance

Firstly, the tyre companies looked at ways to reduce what is known in the trade as rolling resistance. This refers to the energy that the tyre needs to expend to overcome friction provided by the road surface. Within the car, this would often create a humming sound as you were driving down the highway. New designs aimed to significantly reduce this resistance and largely eliminate the low-pitched noise.

Internal Vibrations

As you know, car tyres are filled with air. When the vehicle is moving, this air can vibrate, which engineers know as 'cavity resonance'. After a lot of development, they decided to introduce a special foam made from polyurethane to the interior surface of the tyre, which interrupts the resonance and reduces the amount of vibration. Once again, this produces a quieter ride within the passenger compartment.

Ensuring Performance

There was always a danger here, however. Technology that reduces noise in this way could affect performance, and companies were very careful to make sure this didn't happen. The additional foam does not contribute to the weight of the tyre, and the resistance enhancements do not affect overall speed. These amazing technologies have not added any appreciable cost to the purchase price of the tyre, either.

Buying the New Technology

As you haven't changed the tyres on your car for some time, you really should take advantage of these technological breakthroughs. Have a word with supplier of brands like Toyo Tyres to get your latest set.