Toyo Awarded for Fuel Saving R&D

Research conducted by Toyo Tire & Rubber into technologies improving fuel economy has earned the company an award from the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. One Toyo employee, OE Tire Development project manager Tamotsu Mizutani, was granted the “Award for Technical Development” award for work carried out together with Honda R&D. Four Honda researchers were also honoured at the May 21 ceremony.

The technology developed by Toyo and Honda relates to reducing energy loss. Toyo explains that a tyre’s tread shrinks upon contact with the ground, and the constant repeated contraction and expansion experienced by the tread causes energy to be dissipated. Materials traditionally used to minimise this energy loss and improve fuel efficiency, adds Toyo, hinder braking power – and those that optimise braking increase energy loss. The Japanese tyremaker comments that attempts to find the best mix of materials to increase both functions proved a challenge until recent research showed that the way a tyre’s　tread　is “used” differs between when the vehicle is travelling at a constant speed and when it is braking.

During braking, significant burden is placed on the outside of the tread. By applying materials that increase energy loss to this specific part of the tyre, Toyo’s researchers were able to increase stopping power. Through the combination of these materials together with an optimisation of the tyre’s cross-sectional structure and better pressure distribution at the contact patch, Toyo has been able to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent (as measured using the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s 10-15 test cycle).

The research carried out by Toyo and Honda has been applied to the Tranpath A20 (215/60 R17 96H). This tyre has been fitted as original equipment to the 2.0 litre version of the Honda Crossroad since 2007.