Sailun EcoPoint³ solves ‘magic triangle’ conflict

It doesn’t suffice for a product to be sustainable. The processes used to manufacture this product must be sustainable, too. This is the thinking behind EcoPoint³, the innovation in compounding technology that Sailun Group highlighted during The Tire Cologne. Arriving soon in tyres sold in the UK and Europe, EcoPoint³ results from more than a decade of development.

Sailun launched the technology in China in 2019, initially in original equipment tyres for mid- to high-end vehicles. Now the tyre maker is on the brink of introducing new ranges in other markets and is confident that EcoPoint³ will provide a “big advantage” in future dealings with global OEMs.

What is EcoPoint³?

As notes Dr Wang Mengjiao, the scientist who has led EcoPoint³ development, the demands placed upon modern tyres are “much more complex than in the past.” In addition to meeting the highest safety standards and delivering maximum performance, they must be “environmentally friendly in production, sustainable in service life and, of course, as efficient as possible.”

Compound mixing can play an important role here. But conventional compounding processes rely upon purely mechanical methods of mixing reinforcing fillers into the rubber, and this dry blending is very energy intensive and can result in poorly distributed fillers. In contrast, EcoPoint³ delivers completely uniform mixing under continuous liquid phase conditions. Sailun reports that “filler is thus mixed evenly and optimally in the nanometre range,” with the additional bonus of less energy being expended during the process.

Gareth Passmore, Sailun Group’s senior vice-president Car and Truck Europe, thus refers to EcoPoint³ as a “milestone” in the development of the company’s eco tyre technology. “Already in the production of our new car and truck tyres, we are reducing energy consumption for every tyre produced.”

Delivering the right balance

The EcoPoint³ compounding process also results in a high efficiency of salinisation, leading to stronger filler-polymer interaction and weaker filler-filler interaction. Sailun says its tyres therefore obtain a “significantly finer compound,” which at the same time exhibits “excellent dynamic properties, better strain-stress properties, friction, and abrasion.” In real-world terms, this means that regardless of whether the tyre is a high-performance, summer, all season or winter model, EcoPoint³ will adapt to “deliver the right rubber balance for exceptional performance and longevity in a wide range of vehicle and seasonal applications.”

Improvements to the highest degree

According to Sailun, extensive on-road testing with EcoPoint³ tyres in China, Europe, Japan and North America show that the technology improves fuel consumption by about 20 per cent compared with competitor products, whilst mileage is up to 30 per cent better.

Dr Wang Mengjiao stresses that EcoPoint³ tyres “clearly have the potential to successfully solve the problem of the so-called ‘magic triangle’ that has plagued the industry for many years.” He adds that whereas prior generations of green tyre sacrificed wear characteristics in order to optimise rolling resistance and wet grip, EcoPoint³ “allows for overall improvement in all three attributes.” Pointing to results of its testing and research, Sailun emphasises that EcoPoint³ tyres can improve the balance and improvement of these three characteristics “to the highest degree,” provided other performance characteristics are not compromised.

Furthermore, Sailun reports that EcoPoint³ technology reduces heat generation in the tyre and contributes to noticeably improved ride comfort and reduced noise emissions. This is because the rubber compound of EcoPoint³ tyres is softer, and this reduces tyre/road noise and vibrations. Less heat build-up also reduces wear and tear, increasing overall tyre life.

The Sailun Atrezzo 4S Pro all-season tyre features EcoPoint³ technology (Photo: Tyrepress / Stephen Goodchild)

The smart alternative

Sailun currently sells approximately seven million tyres per year in Europe, and annual sales are rising. “Our goal of becoming the smart alternative to the established brands, especially here in Europe, is a special challenge for Sailun,” says Gareth Passmore. The tyre maker aims to meet this challenge by offering “premium quality at attractive prices” and by focusing on “innovative further development” of its tyre range.

Stefan Cimball, director of marketing for Sailun Group Europe, adds that while Sailun is a young company that was only founded 20 years ago, it “will not hide” its heritage. “Rather, we will openly use it and wrap it in smart branding. EcoPoint³ will be a big advantage here.

“We are developing the Sailun and Maxam brands in Europe and worldwide based on values, emotional branding technology and consumer knowledge,” Cimball continues. “With EcoPoint³ technology and the corresponding test results, we have physical proof of our tyres’ performance. With our ‘smart-forward’ positioning, we can satisfy the consumer requirement for high-quality products and premium packaging and look at a mid-range price.”