Bridgestone introduces new tire technology.TOKYO--(AUTOMOTIVE WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1994--Bridgestone Corporation introduced today three new innovations it has developed in fundamental tire technology, capable of realizing improvements in a wide range of performance categories in various types of tires. The three technical innovations are a comprehensive tire design method, a new bead bead Small object, usually pierced for stringing. It may be made of virtually any material—wood, shell, bone, seed, nut, metal, stone, glass, or plastic—and is worn or affixed to another object for decorative or, in some cultures, magical purposes. for rounder mounted tires, and new compounds containing long-chained carbon black structures. The company indicated that while each of these three new technologies makes a definite contribution to improvements in performance levels on an individual basis, integration of all three technologies makes possible a significant enhancement in the maneuverability, driving comfort and economy of a tire. Bridgestone believes that its new innovations will change the basic assumptions that are currently held about tires. The new technologies are incorporated in a new summer tire which will be introduced in Japan next year. The new technologies will also be utilized in some new high performance tires, manufactured in Japan, which will be introduced to the U.S. market later in 1995. On a gradual basis, more of the company's tires sold in the U.S. will feature these new innovations in tire technology. In addition to improving tires for consumers, Bridgestone officials said the new technologies will likely boost performance levels of racing tires beyond current limits and lead to the creation of racing tires possessing greater competitive strength. Details of the three innovations: Comprehensive Tire Design Method Bridgestone's comprehensive tire design method is a computerized, evolutionary method of design, composed of simulation techniques such as the finite element See FEA. method, as well as the optimization technique in tire design. It reaches a solution for each designated target performance that can be mathematically, verified as being the optimal option. The new design method is set into motion when an existing tire design is inputted and design constraints, design variables and the desired target performances are identified. Based on this information, several variations of the existing tire design are calculated. Using these variations as indicators, the optimal direction in which to evolve is identified, and the extent to which to follow this direction is then calculated. After this step of evolution is completed, judgment is made whether further evolution is possible in another direction. If so, the cycle of evolution is repeated until the tire design optimally suited to the designated target performances is attained. This method can be applied to optimize various factors of tire design, such as tire contour contour or contour line, line on a topographic map connecting points of equal elevation above or below mean sea level. It is thus a kind of isopleth, or line of equal quantity. , pattern pitch sequence and material characteristics. New Bead for Rounder Mounted Tires Bridgestone's accumulated tire design and construction knowledge has provided a relatively high level of precision in the creation of perfectly round tires. Yet, however precisely a tire is made, its roundness can be diminished if it is not fitted evenly onto the rim of its wheel, since an inconsistent fit causes oscillation Oscillation Any effect that varies in a back-and-forth or reciprocating manner. Examples of oscillation include the variations of pressure in a sound wave and the fluctuations in a mathematical function whose value repeatedly alternates above and below some in a rotating ro·tate v. ro·tat·ed, ro·tat·ing, ro·tates v.intr. 1. To turn around on an axis or center. 2. tire. Bridgestone driving test results showed that straight driving stability during high-speed driving is indeed influenced by this problem. CT-scan analysis of tires displaying oscillation revealed that a gap may exist between the tire's bead and the wheel's rim. Moreover, the size of this gap varies at different points along the rim's circumference. Reasons for this uneven fit were discovered by Bridgestone engineers upon close examination of the process by which a tire is fitted onto the wheel's rim. Several methods can be considered to eliminate the unevenness of this spacing. Bridgestone selected the method of altering the bead's shape, giving the bead heel a new, convex Convex Curved, as in the shape of the outside of a circle. Usually referring to the price/required yield relationship for option-free bonds. design. This allows the bead to reach its designated position on the rim with greater accuracy and, most importantly Adv. 1. most importantly - above and beyond all other consideration; "above all, you must be independent" above all, most especially , to maintain a more consistent fit around the entire circumference of the rim. Bridgestone's new bead is an innovation on a very fundamental level of tire technology and offers drivers the opportunity to realize a tire's full performance potential. New Compounds Containing Long-chained Carbon Black Structures Compounds of a tire's tread tread injury to the coronet of the horse's hoof by treading on it by the opposite hoof, or by another horse when they are being worked in a team. If the coronary matrix is injured there may be a subsequent crack or deformity. rubber are comprised of rubber polymers, sulfur and carbon black. Carbon black is purified soot soot, black or dull brown deposit of fine powder resulting from incomplete combustion of fuel of high carbon content, e.g., coal, wood, and oil. It consists chiefly of amorphous carbon and tarry substances that cause it to adhere to surfaces. which is obtained from the incomplete combustion of heavy oil (i.e., black coal). Carbon black particles are round in shape, with a diameter of 15 to 50 nanometers (one nanometer is equivalent to one billionth of a meter), and are mixed into rubber compounds in grape-like clusters. Since these carbon black clusters serve as the reinforcing filler fill·er 1 n. One that fills, as: a. Something added to augment weight or size or fill space. b. A composition, especially a semisolid that hardens on drying, used to fill pores, cracks, or holes in wood, plaster, in a compound, the characteristics of a given compound depend to a great extent upon what type of carbon black structure it contains. Efforts are currently being made to respond to the increasingly high power of cars by improving tire wear resistance, and concern for the environments is stimulating endeavors to reduce fuel consumption. Demand has thus increased in every segment of the tire market for compounds that can offer higher levels of performance. In response, Bridgestone has pursued the development of more effective carbon structures that can be used in every type of tire. The company discovered, through analysis of the relationship between a tire's overall performance and the shape of its compound's carbon structures, that a longer-chained carbon structure is effective in reconciling the conflict performance objectives of wear resistance and rolling resistance Rolling resistance, sometimes called rolling friction or rolling drag, is the resistance that occurs when an object such as a ball or tire rolls. It is caused by the deformation of the wheel or tire or the deformation of the ground. . What is unique is the structure's height-to-width ratio, as well as the increased number of particle clusters that are linked in each structure. Use of the new long-chained carbon realizes improved wear resistance while concurrently achieving reductions in rolling resistance. Bridgestone has consistently concerned itself with the safety, riding comfort and economy of tires, as well as the effect tires have on the environment. Its efforts to develop technologies relevant to these concerns have borne such achievements as the Rolling Contour Optimization Theory (RCOT RCOT Rotary Club of Tucson (Arizona) ), developed in 1984 to resolve the incompatibility The inability of a Husband and Wife to cohabit in a marital relationship. incompatibility n. the state of a marriage in which the spouses no longer have the mutual desire to live together and/or stay married, and is thus a ground for divorce dilemma between maneuverability and riding comfort, and the Tension Control Optimization Theory (TCOT TCOT Transaction Commit on Timeout TCOT Tactical Control Operations Team ), which enhances the durability of truck tires and was announced in 1987. In the realm of ultra-high performance tires, Bridgestone has been acclaimed by renowned sportscar manufacturers around the world. Tire technologies developed for these automakers have created new compounds through the redesigning of rubber polymers, as well as a new belt structure that enhances a tire's handling performance at high speeds. To date, however, various restrictions have rendered impractical im·prac·ti·cal adj. 1. Unwise to implement or maintain in practice: Refloating the sunken ship proved impractical because of the great expense. 2. the incorporation of such new materials and new structures in each of the many tire segments. Bridgestone has therefore been pursuing new tire technologies that could not only provide a greater number of drivers with the features of a high performance tire, but also make more flexible the design methods available to its engineers. The company re-examined and questioned existing assumptions about the materials, construction, contour and pattern of a tire -- succeeding ultimately in developing these new technologies that can greatly improve a tire's performance in various different categories. Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is a leader among the world's tire companies Manufacturer Country Est. Brands and Subsidiaries Aeolus Tyre China Alliance Tire Company Ltd. Israel 1950 Amtel-Povolzhye, Kirov; Amtel-Chernozemye, Voronezh Apollo Tyres Ltd. , producing a complete line of tires which account for 75 percent of its sales worldwide. It also manufactures a wide range of diversified products which include industrial rubber and chemical products, sporting goods Noun 1. sporting goods - sports equipment sold as a commodity commodity, trade good, good - articles of commerce sports equipment - equipment needed to participate in a particular sport and others. These products are sold in more than 150 nations and territories around the world. In the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone fire·stone n. 1. A flint or pyrite used to strike a fire. 2. A fire-resistant stone, such as certain sandstones. Noun 1. , Dayton, private brand and house brand tires, as well as a wide range of industrial and synthetic rubber synthetic rubber: see rubber. goods. CONTACT: Bridgestone Corporation, Nashville, Tenn.
Trevor Hoskins, 615/872-1411 or 800/851-7000
John Taylor, 615/872-1417
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