1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

GM: Tire Tech Key To Fuel Efficiency, Invests $5 Million

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by F8L, Nov 29, 2012.

  1. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    This kinda stuff gets me all excited! ;)

    GM: Tire Tech Key To Fuel Efficiency, Invests $5 Million

     
    #1 F8L, Nov 29, 2012
  2. CAlbertson

    CAlbertson Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
    99
    24
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    If you have every ridden a bicycle very much you know how much tires mater. I remember the first time I got on a high-end road bike. I thought the bike could coast "forever". There was almost zero rolling resistance. But really what made the difference is the tires on a bike like that would have 100PSI in them.

    The way to think about tires is to look at the size and shape of the contact patch. The square area of the patch is very close to the weight on that wheel divided by the tire pressure. THe length of the patch is the areas dived by the width of the tire.
     
    #2 CAlbertson, Nov 29, 2012
  3. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,530
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    5 Million ?
    Is that 1% of their TV budget ?
     
    #3 SageBrush, Nov 29, 2012
    F8L likes this.
  4. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,997
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    This is good news because Toyota is also investing in LRR tires for Gen4 Prius. The more choices the better.
     
    #4 usbseawolf2000, Nov 29, 2012
  5. Duffer

    Duffer Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2007
    271
    15
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hopefully some of that 5 mil goes to air retention. There is always at least one of my tires that loses air over a couple weeks and it blows. Air pressure sensors are expensive and are little use to me. A tire\wheel combo that retains air pressure under all conditions would be gold.
     
    #5 Duffer, Dec 2, 2012
  6. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    So after spending millions of dollars on R&D someone will invent a better tire. Then manufacturers will tell everyone to inflate it to 32psi. If they aren't the cheapest tires money can buy will they end up on new cars?

    Today, right now, the vast majority can get a 1% or 2% increase in FE just by inflating the tires they have.
     
    #6 JimN, Dec 2, 2012
  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Some tires like the Yokohama Ascend and dBSuper E-Spec offer such technology so I'm sure more tires will incorporate similar designs.
     
    #7 F8L, Dec 2, 2012
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The technology developed will most definitely be incorporated into new vehicle OE equipment. It is one of the most cost effective ways for a manufacturer to achieve CAFE standards for their entire fleet. It is easier and cheaper to get a 2-3mpg improvement with a new tire than it is to develop a new engine or transmission that is 2-3mpg more efficient. :)

    Currently, most new cars come with fuel efficient tires. They may not be labeled as such but you can bet that the auto manufacturer specified LRR technology when they contracted with the tire manufacturer.
     
    #8 F8L, Dec 2, 2012
    austingreen likes this.
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    #9 F8L, Dec 2, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)