Continental has rolled out an original equipment (OE) tire line for autonomous vehicles. The aContact tire family combines specially developed tire technologies that meet the varying requirements and areas of application of autonomous vehicle fleets, and are well-suited to robotaxis, shuttle vehicles, autonomous delivery services and, in the future, self-driving private cars, the tire maker says. Continental’s aContact tires are due to be released across US cities such as Las Vegas and San Francisco.

“Self-driving robotaxis will soon be part of our everyday mobility – alongside traditional cars, cargo bikes and e-scooters,” said Meletis Xigakis, head of research and development for the original equipment business at Continental Tires.

Continue reading Continental launches tires for autonomous vehicles at Tire Technology International.

TDK Corporation and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have announced a collaboration focused on advancing next-generation tire solutions. The goal is to advance the development and adoption of integrated intelligent hardware and software within tires and vehicle ecosystems.

The collaboration aims to develop a comprehensive collection of sensors and related technologies for use in vehicles and tire applications. TDK will leverage its expertise in software, sensors and electronic components, with Goodyear using its knowledge in tire development, intelligent solutions and industry trends.

Jim Tran, general manager, Americas HQ and deputy general manager, Technology & Intellectual Property Center, TDK Corporation, emphasized the increasing need for real-time intelligence from the road to the tire to the car in the evolving automotive industry, and said the collaboration will accelerate technology advancements, providing customers access to high-performance sensor technology.

Continue reading Goodyear and TDK partner to advance intelligent tire technologies at Tire Technology International.

The organization notes that signs of recovery observed in major economies, associated with the release of Covid restrictions, have contributed to a year-on-year growth in rubber demand. This was initially estimated at 13,900,000 metric tons, a 7.2% increase year on year, prior to the latest adjustment. The ANRPC also noted that it observed that prices in some areas of the NR market were volatile through July.

Continue reading ANRPC releases latest natural rubber production trends at Tire Technology International.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its rubber trends for April. Key among the current data is that production peaked at 903,000 tons and demand hit 1.129 million tons, both a considerable increase compared with the same time last year. However, the markets were subject to considerable price volatility.

The organization notes that Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on the market, not least because various countries have imposed different levels of restriction, which affects mobility, economic activity and thus NR demand. Specifically, measures introduced in rubber-producing nations such as Thailand, Indonesia and India have, says the ANRPC, the potential to cause a drop in production volumes in the second quarter of the year.

Continue reading Natural rubber markets remain volatile at Tire Technology International.

Despite a strong upward trend in the crude oil market, the natural rubber markets in January 2021 were volatile, though prices for NR improved by 0.6% compared with December 2020.

Continue reading ANRPC releases latest forecasts at Tire Technology International.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Natural Rubber Trends & Statistics report for September, which highlights that world production of natural rubber (NR) fell 8.7%, year-on-year, during Jan-Aug 2020 to 7.778 million tons.

Accounting for a predicted 3.8% fall in the remaining four months of the year, the total production during 2020 is anticipated at 12.901 million metric tons reflecting a 6.8% fall from the previous year. This revised outlook of the world supply in 2020 is 1.9 percentage points lower than the outlook reported a month ago which was 13.149 million metric tons by representing a 4.9% fall.

Continue reading Rubber market recovery slows at Tire Technology International.

This year marks the 39th anniversary of The Tire Society Conference on Tire Science and Technology, which this year will take place virtually. The conference will see 27 original works on tire technology, presented by the authors, in addition to a Special Topic Paper on the 40+ year history of The Tire Society as well as a keynote address, plenary address, invited lecture and panel discussion.

Presenters will be answering questions live, and, due to its virtual nature, the conference will be held over five days, from September 28 through October 2, in the morning hours Eastern Time, facilitating global attendance.

Continue reading The Tire Society goes online for 39<span style="font-size: 50%; vertical-align: super;">th </span> conference at Tire Technology International.

The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has welcomed the publication of the European Union’s 2020 Communication on Critical Raw Materials, which retains natural rubber (NR) in its list of critical raw materials. NR is the only biotic material to be included on the list, and was included in 2017.

According to the organization, the tire industry alone absorbs about 76% of all the natural rubber produced globally. Today, there is no substitute for natural rubber from hevea trees that could be used in all current applications. ETRMA states inclusion in the critical raw materials list reconfirms NR’s priority status in EU policy, and the importance of securing fair and sustainable supply of natural rubber for European industry.

Continue reading Natural rubber still a strategic resource for Europe at Tire Technology International.

Highlighting a growing drive within the tire industry toward greater environmental accountability, Nexen Tire has released its first Sustainability Report, outlining the company’s sustainable practices and environmental, social and economic performance in 2019.

Nexen says the report has been published to provide shareholders with consistent and transparent information, highlighting the progress and long-term commitment to its sustainable practices. The report is based on standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and has been verified by the Korea Management Registrar (KMR), a third-party assurance institution.

Nexen claims it has three core values – Challenge, Creativity, and Collaboration – to achieve its corporate philosophy.

Continue reading Nexen Tire publishes first <i>Sustainability Report</i> at Tire Technology International.

According to manufacturer Vredestein, the European all-season tire segment grew by 23% in 2019. Looking to capitalize on this growth, the company has launched its latest Quatrac range, an all-season tire aimed at smaller wheel sizes.

Available in 15in and 16in sizes, Vredestein claims the new tire provides a balance of performance across seasons, while also increasing efficiency thanks to a lightweight construction and low rolling resistance. It notes that both shoulders of the tire are suited for summer use, while the center of the tire is more winter-focused, with a higher sipe density for better traction. Additionally, the number of shoulder blocks is scaled to tire diameter to ensure performance in winter and the tire also features a deep-V-shaped profile.

Continue reading All-season developments for smaller cars at Tire Technology International.