Abstract
Current demands by the consumer, the automobile industry, and the environment have determined the basis of this investigation. In the past, the requirements—ever faster, ever sportier—were accepted as decisive parameters for the development of our study. In the future, rational and safety-related tire characteristics as well as environmental consciousness will increase, whereas purely performance-related parameters will diminish in their importance.
Through our light-weight tire project, we have paved the way for future tire generations. The first priority is the minimal use of material resources; this means a reduction of materials and energy in tire production by using advanced design and production methods without sacrificing performance standards. This benefits the consumer—the final judge of all of our activities—by considerably reducing the rolling resistance, leading to lower fuel consumption. Further design targets include the improvement of rolling behavior and increased comfort by reducing tire weight, and therefore a reduction in unsprung masses on the vehicle.