2.2.5.

Special Tyres

Fig. 2.8. Pneuri cu autoregenerare a profilului – Michelin

2.2.6. Inflating and Self-Inflating Tyres

Fig. 2.9 Tyre featuring a sensor embedded into the wheel rim that permits the pressure monitoring

Fig. 2.10 Inflating Tire system (Hummer)

The Self Inflating Tire system (SIT) is a new invention of Coda Development designed to aid
fuel economy and safety, which has rapidly found an accolade. Besides benefiting drivers through
elimination of unpopular pressure checks and dirty-handed inflating of tires, it helps to address the
serious drawbacks of incorrect tire pressure. SIT is an integral tire feature that uses atmospheric air
to inflate the tire automatically when a vehicle is put in motion, compensating for natural loss of

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pressure and ensuring maintenance-free, constant tire pressure over the lifetime of the tire. The
system is based on peristaltic pump principles. It integrates a tube chamber into the tire wall. As the
tire turns against the road this chamber acts as a peristaltic pump, forcing more air into the tire until
it reaches its desired pressure. Then a managing valve automatically stops further inflation, ensuring
that all tires operate at optimal pressure at all times. Driving less than one mile compensates for
typical leakage of 1-3% per month.

Fig. 2.11 Self Inflating Tire system (SIT)

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/b0fed879#/b0fed879/26
http://www.tiretechnologyinternational.com/magazine_archive.php

2.2.7. Run-Flat Tyres

INCREASE TYRE LIFE WITH POLYURETHANE FILL
Proper pneumatic tyre wear and performance is directly related to tyre inflation pressure. A
tyre filled with a proper medium can greatly enhance overall vehicle productivity. Tyres filled with
Arnco's patented 8-Shore A-hardness polyurethane elastomer, SuperFlex, provide a broader
footprint for increased traction on soft terrain.
Unaffected by temperature extremes, they operate in all weather conditions while also
increasing ballast for handling heavy loads – improving stability and increasing traction – and
lowering the vehicle's centre of gravity. SuperFlex can be used with bias or radial-ply tyres, and
provides a better ride than an air-filled tyre because shock transference is reduced, which reduces,
therefore, driver fatigue while also increasing driver efficiency. Additionally, SuperFlex can be
used on equipment fitted with over-the-tyre metal tracks, and is approved by OEMs such as Bobcat,
Caterpillar and Gehl.
A vehicle fitted with SuperFlex filled tyres can operate continuously at speeds up to 35 mph
(56 km/h) and up to two hours at highway speeds of 55 mph (88 km/h). Moreover, tyres filled with
SuperFlex can be recapped numerous times, as long as the tyre carcass is intact. Additionally,
SuperFlex-filled tyres do not void most equipment or tyre manufacturers' warranties.
Arnco, founded in 1971 and located in South Gate, California, is the world's largest supplier
of polyurethane flat-proofing fill for tyres used in construction, mining, airport ground support,
materials handling and lawn and garden industries.
Arnco also markets several different formulations – including HeviDuty, RePneu and RePneu
II - and ReSeal tyre sealant and rim conditioner to meet the needs of equipment applications. Sales
and technical staff are based in Manchester, UK, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA – the company
also benefits from facilities in South Gate, Cleveland in Ohio.

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 Fig. 2.12 After-puncture behaviour comparison of a run-flat tyre (left) and a normal tyre (right)

Fig. 2.13 Tyres with running flat abilities

Left - Latest wide-single truck drive axle tyre from Bridgestone features an inner envelope held at
slightly lower pressure, which in the event of a puncture, expands to compensate to 'get you home'
Midle - The Michelin Pax wheel has internal ribs to locate the support ring that lets the tyre run
without air pressure. An external attachment system ensures that the tyre stays on the bead, even
when deflated
Right - The Continental Safety Ring is a steel and rubber support that mounts inside a conventional
wheel and tyre to provide run-flat capability. The device adds weight and cost, but provides the
piece of mind of a run-flat tyre without requiring any changes to infrastructure or special wheels

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 Fig. 2.14 Run-flat systems

2.2.8. Tyre aids

Snow chains

AutoSock
The AutoSock is tailored for situations where the duration of icy & snowy roads is normally
short and does not justify special tyres or snow chains. It is suitable and permitted as temporary
winter aid for vehicles, and is easy to mount and dismount. The AutoSock is machine washable and
easy to store.

Fig. 2.15. AutoSock

Extensive research has brought the sock through a series of stages - from the first simple ones
with a short life span which are beneficial just for specific conditions, to a robust sock suitable for
most conditions.
Traction tests with and without AutoSocks were performed along a straight 50 meter test
course with a 7% uphill gradient. On ice/slush these tests showed a reduction in elapsed time for
AutoSocks between 18 and 21% relative to summer tyres, 8% relative to unstudded winter tyres and
6% relative to studded tyres. On snow the reduction in elapsed time for AutoSocks was between 23
and 33% relative to summer tyres and 4% relative to studded and unstudded winter tyres.

AutoSock AS has engaged leading research institutes in order to carry out various prototype
tests using adequate industry standard measurement methods and equipment. Initial field tests on

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snow and indoor tests on ice showed that the ice friction properties needed to be improved.
Statistics show that during the winter more accidents occur on icy rather than on snowy
surfaces. These included tests at the VTI Tyre testing facility in Sweden. VTI is the Swedish
National Road and Transport Research Institute. AutoSock AS made use of special test machinery
for ice that also eliminates human errors which affect braking efficiency on ice. Several tyre and car
manufacturers have also used the same facility.
Subsequent to these tests the following tasks needed to be focused on:
1. Improve ice friction without compromising the snow friction properties.
2. Make use of 'state of the art' knowledge about ski base sliding friction theory and ski base
structures.
3. Exploit ways of objectively and scientifically describe the surface texture of different
AutoSock prototypes in order to increase understanding about the prevailing friction.

The frictional surface of an AutoSock combines the following sets of characteristics:

1. A surface pattern with a sufficiently high degree of courseness to make the total contact
area exposed to dry friction as large as possible under dry, wet, hard and soft snowy or icy
conditions.
2. A combination of surface pattern, strength and elasticity that make the contact points
sufficiently sticky under hard snow or icy conditions.

The TUV graph below compares the handling of a car using AutoSock, snow chains and
normal winter tyres on snow. The results shows that:
1. AutoSock has easily got the best general traction, uphill and downhill course holding and
brake behavior.
2. AutoSock is only slightly behind snow chains when it comes to hill start traction and
ground leel starts.
3. AutoSock is a great improvement over winter tyres in every area, except hill starts where it
is a match.

Fig. 2.16. AutoSock handling performance

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 2.3. NON-PNEUMATIC TYRES

Fig. 2.17 Composite wheel with elastic spokes

The composite wheel has flexible spokes and the rubber tread directly on the rim.
One way to avoid punctures or pressure losses in tyres is to get rid of tyres altogether. The
Swedish inventor Hans-Erik Hanssond has invented a composite wheel with the tread surface
directly on a rim base. The wheel has elastic spokes to compensate for the suspension and damping
function of an inflated tyre. At a 'silent car' seminar in Gothenburg recently, this wheel was claimed
to reduce tyre/road noise by up to 7 dB. It is also lighter than an ordinary wheel with a tyre, but
suffers material fatigue problems, creates off-centre rotating forces and lacks the inertia of a tyre
that takes up dynamic forces on a vehicle. Finnish tyre maker Nokian is working on the project.

Fig. 2.18 Industrial-vehicle wheels without tyre

Fig. 2.19 Industrial vehicle wheel fitted with polyurethane

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