Understanding Tire Technology: Car Expert Lauren Fix
When it comes to tire technology, believe it or not, it comes from race cars. In this edition of Car Coach, YNN's Lauren Fix tells you everything you need to know about tires. When it comes to tire technology, believe it or not it comes from race cars. We attended a purpose-built training race track that was designed from the ground up expressly for driver and tire development. By learning to drive these types of race cars on a special track to the limit, at Mosport Park Driver Development Track, in Ontario, Canada; we were able to experience the limits of the Bridgestone street tires that were utilized on these open wheel racecars. So how does racing an open wheel car translate to your vehicle. Because tires are what connects the car to the road and keep the driver in control. Car racing teams understand that. That's why they use high performance tires tailored to their particular form of racing. Technology from those specialized tires has trickled down to production cars. You've probably noticed that the tires on your car have grooves in them. These groves allow the tire to channel things like water, or even snow and slush, away from the car. If you have all-season tires on your car, the grooves are likely very deep and the rubber has lots of shames in the tread. This type of tire gives the car teeth that can grip uneven or loose surfaces. If you have a sports car, the tires likely have a fewer number of grooves and the grooves are typically shallower. That allows more of the tire's rubber to maintain contact with the road, making the car handle better. All of these innovations and the development of different tire types came from racing. Like most racing technologies, high-performance racing tire technology has been translated into production cars for everyday use. For example, Formula 1 and NASCAR racecars use tires with very soft rubber. That rubber gets sticky when it's heated, which helps hold the car to the track. While that may sound great, don't go buy a set of racing tires just yet. That softer rubber has a short wear life -- you'll notice that a race car gets several new sets of tires over the course of a single race -- while the tires on most production cars are designed to last for many tens of thousands of miles. Many basic tire designs have evolved from racing innovations, but once again, production cars have put it to everyday use. The Bridgestone school was a great opportunity to personally experience the tire technology transfer of knowledge and testing to improve street car tires that enhances your safety, handling braking, fuel economy and tire life. So the next time you go to purchase tires, purchase a name brand tire. www.bridgestonetire.com Courtesy of YNN/Time Warner Cable Aired: 9/17/2013
When it comes to tire technology, believe it or not, it comes from race cars. In this edition of Car Coach, YNN's Lauren Fix tells you everything you need to know about tires. When it comes to tire technology, believe it or not it comes from race cars. We attended a purpose-built training race track that was designed from the ground up expressly for driver and tire development. By learning to drive these types of race cars on a special track to the limit, at Mosport Park Driver Development Track, in Ontario, Canada; we were able to experience the limits of the Bridgestone street tires that were utilized on these open wheel racecars. So how does racing an open wheel car translate to your vehicle. Because tires are what connects the car to the road and keep the driver in control. Car racing teams understand that. That's why they use high performance tires tailored to their particular form of racing. Technology from those specialized tires has trickled down to production cars. You've probably noticed that the tires on your car have grooves in them. These groves allow the tire to channel things like water, or even snow and slush, away from the car. If you have all-season tires on your car, the grooves are likely very deep and the rubber has lots of shames in the tread. This type of tire gives the car teeth that can grip uneven or loose surfaces. If you have a sports car, the tires likely have a fewer number of grooves and the grooves are typically shallower. That allows more of the tire's rubber to maintain contact with the road, making the car handle better. All of these innovations and the development of different tire types came from racing. Like most racing technologies, high-performance racing tire technology has been translated into production cars for everyday use. For example, Formula 1 and NASCAR racecars use tires with very soft rubber. That rubber gets sticky when it's heated, which helps hold the car to the track. While that may sound great, don't go buy a set of racing tires just yet. That softer rubber has a short wear life -- you'll notice that a race car gets several new sets of tires over the course of a single race -- while the tires on most production cars are designed to last for many tens of thousands of miles. Many basic tire designs have evolved from racing innovations, but once again, production cars have put it to everyday use. The Bridgestone school was a great opportunity to personally experience the tire technology transfer of knowledge and testing to improve street car tires that enhances your safety, handling braking, fuel economy and tire life. So the next time you go to purchase tires, purchase a name brand tire. www.bridgestonetire.com Courtesy of YNN/Time Warner Cable Aired: 9/17/2013