Kumho has been exhibiting examples of its brand new laser etching process at the Frankfurt Motor Show (15-27 September). In the future Kumho plans to avoid compromising functionality and aesthetics, as every tyre maker has had to do up till now, by producing tyres in two stages. The idea is to produce functional requirement by moulding in the normal way. However, any additional attributes or design features will then be etched onto the surface as required, making an attractive design, without compromising on functionality.

Said Roger Jenkins, managing director of Kumho’s Birmingham-based European Technical Centre: “The new laser technology will allow us far more freedom at the design stage and the ability to experiment with any number of patterns and surface finishes. In the future, the process could also provide production tyres with a variety of short-term gains – such as special surfaces for use in motorsport or driving on low friction surfaces etc.”