Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. made new advances in tire aerodynamics technology that control the air flow around tires in motion. The new technology could lead to the development of new tires that will raise fuel efficiency and increase vehicle safety.
In December 2012, Yokohama Rubber developed a technology for placing fin-shaped protuberances on the inner sidewall of the tire in a radial or spoke-like pattern to reduce the aerodynamic drag inside the wheel wells.
The latest development seeks to control aerodynamic flow throughout the vehicle body by using a new fin shape and placement technique that places the fin protuberances at angles near the tire’s shoulder.
The fins on the tire’s outer sidewall help to reduce vehicle aerodynamic drag when on the upper part of the tire during its rotation while suppressing vehicle aerodynamic lift when on the lower part of the tire.
To date, Yokohama Rubber’s research on aerodynamics technology has to a number of new tire designs that contribute to vehicle fuel efficiency, including a dimple design that places small depressions on the side of the tire and the aforementioned fin tires, with fins located on the side of the tire. The latest breakthrough will enable more optimal placement and shaping of dimples and fins as Yokohama Rubber accelerates its research of tire designs that not only improve tires’ fuel performance but also enhance performance in many other areas.
The aerodynamic tire with new fin pattern will be on display at the Yokohama display at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015, to be held from October 28 at the Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan.