DuPont and Goodyear create high-tech tyres that Rock 'n Roll

Think Kevlar, and immediately bullet-proof vests come to mind. But this ultra-tough fibre developed by DuPont in the mid 60s has found a wide variety of applications over the years, ranging from automobile to aerospace. The concept of using Kevlar in the manufacture of automobile tyres is nothing new really. In fact, replacing steel with Kevlar in racing tyres has been among the first commercial applications for this magic fibre. Now however, the boffins at DuPont have worked closely with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to develop tyres with Kevlar that are targeted for use in conditions ranging from tough, rocky terrain to everyday highway driving, and can help provide stability, toughness and comfort.

Using DuPont's years of experience and knowledge of material properties, Kevlar yarns were designed and developed into cords to meet Goodyear's tyre performance needs for passenger cars and trucks. This long-standing relationship between the two companies has yielded many high-tech tyres in the recent past. The resultant tyres use the advantages of Kevlar to help deal with the challenges of the road, ride and comfort, handling, thermal and flame resistance, reduced tyre weight and road noise, among others. A few years ago, Goodyear introduced a couple of commercial tyres that featured a layer of Kevlar under the tread to deliver toughness, shock-absorption and sound insulation.

Among the latest innovations is the new Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar which is the first off-road tyre in the U.S. that is built with Kevlar for enhanced sidewall puncture resistance. Using Kevlar to reinforce the sidewalls means that the tyre is fairly impervious to cuts and punctures in the sidewalls - a common malaise that plagues tyres when driving on demanding off-road surfaces. It also helps reinforce the sidewall for when drivers return to the pavement for the drive home. Sidewalls reinforced with Kevlar® in the new tyre help increase sidewall puncture resistance by approximately 35 percent, compared to the original Wrangler MT/R, a tyre already well-known for its toughness.

Apart from this, Goodyear subsidiary Dunlop, working with designer Pininfarina, also unveiled a future concept tyre technology in Europe. This new ultra-lightweight concept tyre features the latest Kevlar technology to replace traditional steel components and weighs 20-percent less than its regular counterparts. This reduced weight, according to Dunlop, should provide better fuel economy, combined with excellent performance and increased driving pleasure. Another of Dunlop's latest creations is the SP Sport Maxx TT which features lower sidewalls reinforced with DuPont Kevlar. This new tyre is designed to help empower drivers by enhancing driver feedback and precision and features a motorsports-inspired tread and Dunlop's exclusive Touch Technology for better grip and steering response. The SP Sport Maxx TT is already available in North America in 35 initial sizes, ranging from 16-22 inch rim diameters, and will be launched in Europe later this year.