Techniques to Reduce Tire Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20-30% of vehicle fuel consumption, with tire deformation generating heat that dissipates as wasted energy. Modern passenger vehicle tires typically have rolling resistance coefficients between 0.007 and 0.014, representing a significant opportunity for efficiency improvements through materials and design optimization.
The fundamental challenge lies in reducing energy loss from tire deformation while maintaining essential performance characteristics like wet grip, wear resistance, and handling stability.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including advanced rubber compositions with functionalized polymers, multi-layer tread designs, optimized bead geometries, and innovative sidewall architectures. These and other approaches demonstrate how rolling resistance can be reduced while preserving critical tire performance metrics.
1. Exploring Effect of a Ternary Filler System on Low Hysteresis and Improved Wet Grip Properties of Sustainable and Fuel‐Efficient Tyre Tread Formulations
v bijina, k abhitha, youhong tang - Wiley, 2025
ABSTRACT Significant advancements in developing highperformance, sustainable tyre tread compounds have been achieved through the strategic integration of modified silica into carbon black (CB)/thermally exfoliated graphite hybrid filler systems. While benefits fillers such as CB, graphite, and are recognized, limited understanding their interaction mechanisms with polymer chains has hindered widespread adoption. This study investigates mechanical, thermal, dynamic mechanical properties an ecofriendly, green compound, focusing on both binary (CB/silica) ternary (CB, graphite/modified silica) The key aspect this research is utilization prepared by latex imprinting technique along epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) a compatibilizer to enhance between NR matrix. partial replacement CB thermally novel lateximprinted enhanced surface area provides excellent properties, low rolling resistance, improved wet grip, reduced heat buildup. porosity silica, coupled system, play crucial role reducing hysteresis, resulting resistance (0.0376), grip (0.0796), very buildup (13C). attribu... Read More
2. Tire Tread Rubber Composition with Balanced Natural Rubber and Polybutadiene and Specific Filler Ratio
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2025
Rubber composition for tire treads that improves rolling resistance without sacrificing wet traction. The composition contains a balanced blend of natural rubber and polybutadiene, a filler ratio of at least 1:1 carbon black to silica, a coupling agent, a traction resin, a cure accelerator, and a curing system. This formulation allows reducing rolling resistance while maintaining good wet traction compared to traditional tire treads.
3. Design of innovative human-centric tyre on road pressure regulation system for increasing driver safety and fuel efficiency
neeta amol mandhare, omkar yadav, shamkant laxmikant waghmare - SAGE Publishing, 2025
Tyre pressure plays a vital role in dynamic control over the vehicle and enhancing overall fuel efficiency by lowering rolling resistance and, as result, tractive effort. Excessive speeding causes traction loss, which is primary cause of accidents. Wet roads make driving more perilous, hence majority accidents occur during rainy season. As worlds crude oil sources deplete electric car industry expands, it critical to extend range currently existing automobiles improving its efficiency. In order find solution above problems, authors investigated impact tyre on coefficient friction designed developed regulating system that uses an infrared rpm sensor track rate at tires rotational speed decreases function time, then information calculate ideal based current environmental conditions data from various accelerometers. This unique automatically changes provide best combination driver safety sensors detecting slip lateral acceleration, regardless road surface conditions.
4. Method for Designing Asymmetric Tire Structures to Counteract Lateral Forces
PIRELLI TYRE SPA, 2025
A method to reduce rolling resistance and tire temperature in electric vehicles by controlling lateral forces during straight line driving. The method involves designing asymmetric tire internal structures and external profiles that generate opposite lateral forces when the tire rolls straight. One force comes from the tire's internal structure (called Ply-Steer) and the other from the vehicle's camber angle (called Camber Force). By making the forces opposing, it reduces the net lateral force and rolling resistance compared to a symmetric tire. The method can be used to optimize tire designs for electric cars that tend to have higher lateral forces due to regenerative braking.
5. Vehicle Tire Heating System Utilizing Excess Braking Energy with Electrical Power Source Integration
VOLVO TRUCK CORP, 2025
A tyre heating system for vehicles like trucks that can increase range by capturing excess electrical power generated during braking and using it to heat the tires instead of wasting it. The system has an electric power source like an electric motor or fuel cell that generates excess power during braking. When this exceeds the battery charging capability, it feeds the excess to the tire heating system. This avoids wasting the power and uses it to heat the tires, reducing rolling resistance and improving range.
6. Rubber Composition with Solution-Polymerized Aromatic Vinyl-Conjugated Diene Copolymer and Carbon Black
ZEON CORP, ZS ELASTOMERS CO LTD, 2025
Rubber composition for heavy-load tires with improved wear resistance and low rolling resistance. The composition contains a solution-polymerized aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene copolymer with specific vinyl bond content and functional group, and carbon black. The copolymer has 0.5-25% aromatic vinyl units and 0-50% vinyl bond content in the conjugated diene units. This copolymer interacts better with carbon black, providing lower heat buildup, better wear resistance, and tear resistance.
7. Rubber Composition with High Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Content and Silica Filler for Enhanced Dispersion and Low Rolling Resistance
THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025
Rubber composition for tires with improved wear resistance, wet performance, rolling resistance, and temperature dependency of rolling resistance. The composition contains a diene rubber with at least 55% of a specific styrene-butadiene rubber having a Tg of -50°C or lower. This rubber enhances silica dispersion, wear, and low rolling resistance. Additionally, the composition has a white filler of 30-100 parts, thermoplastic resin, and a silane coupling agent blended with the filler at 3-20 mass%. This balance improves dispersibility, reduces rolling resistance temperature dependency, and prevents gelling.
8. Rubber Compositions with Polysulfide Crosslinking Agents Containing Polar Groups for Enhanced Wet Traction
BRIDGESTONE CORP, 2025
Rubber compositions with improved wet traction and low rolling resistance for tire treads. The compositions contain a polysulfide crosslinking agent with polar groups that chemically attach to the rubber chains during mixing. This increases the hydrophilicity of the rubber and enhances wet traction without negatively impacting rolling resistance. The crosslinking agent has a polar group like carboxylate or ether that can be grafted onto the rubber during compounding.
9. Rubber Composition with Low Styrene SBR and Blocked Mercapto Organosilane for Tire Treads
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2025
Rubber composition for tire treads that provides improved wet performance, rolling resistance, and snow traction compared to traditional tire tread compounds. The composition contains a specific blend of elastomers, fillers, resins, and curing agents. The elastomer blend includes a low styrene content SBR with a low glass transition temperature, along with polybutadiene. The SBR has functional groups for improved adhesion to silica filler. The composition also contains a blocked mercapto organosilane coupling agent for better silica bonding. This combination provides a balance of wet traction, rolling resistance, and snow traction for all-season and winter tires.
10. Polymer Composition for Tires with Modified Conjugated Diene-Based Polymer and Functional-Group-Containing Polymer
ENEOS MATERIALS CORP, 2025
A polymer composition for tires that balances fuel efficiency and rigidity. The composition contains a modified conjugated diene-based polymer with nitrogen-containing functional groups, and a functional-group-containing polymer. The modified polymer improves fuel efficiency, while the functional-group-containing polymer maintains rigidity. The ratio of modified polymer to functional polymer is 99:1 to 70:30 by mass. This composition allows tires to have both low rolling resistance and good steering stability.
11. Annular Shear Band with Interlaced Zigzag Reinforcing Elements and Rhombus Configuration
COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, 2025
Annular shear band for non-pneumatic tires with reduced rolling resistance. The shear band has an annular rubber shear layer with discrete annular reinforcing elements interlaced in a zigzag pattern. The reinforcing elements are arranged in rows with reinforcing elements from adjacent rows forming rhombus shapes. This configuration provides load support and prevents crack propagation while allowing high strain deformation. The shear layer is made of a rubber composition with natural rubber and a low styrene content copolymer. The reinforcing elements are made of silica with a coupling agent. The specific reinforcing element arrangement and rubber composition provide low rolling resistance in the shear band.
12. Chemically Modified Precipitated Silica with In-situ Alkali Metal Alkyl Siliconate Integration
RHODIA OPERATIONS, 2025
Chemically modified precipitated silica with improved compatibility with polymeric matrices. The silica is modified during the precipitation process by adding alkali metal alkyl siliconates. This allows the formation of silica chemically modified with alkyl groups. The modification takes place during the precipitation without additional steps. The modified silica can be used as a reinforcing filler in polymeric compositions like tires.
13. Rubber Composition with Defined SBR and EPDM Ratios and Specific Silica and Zinc Oxide Content
APOLLO TYRES GLOBAL R&D BV, 2025
Rubber composition for tire treads that provides improved wet grip and rolling resistance compared to conventional rubber compositions. The composition contains specific ratios of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), silica, and zinc oxide. The composition also has a specific styrene content in the SBR, vinyl content in the SBR, and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the SBR. Cross-linking the composition improves wet grip and maintains rolling resistance compared to cross-linking conventional rubber compositions.
14. A Numerical Study on Predicting Rolling Resistance of Tires Based on the Change of Accumulated Strain Energy Density
dehong hu, dian zhang, you wang - Darcy & Roy Press Co. Ltd., 2025
The prediction of tire rolling resistance is importance in both academic and engineering. Classic computational methods are complexity low efficiency. This paper proposes a method based on cumulative changes strain energy density to calculate resistance. Obtain the stress stains states various components by Finite Element Analysis (FEA), apply Karmals formula for computation changing density. proposed achieves good tendency between measurement results. Moreover, efficiency reduced 1/12 that classic methods. can be used complex simplified tread patterns tires predicting.
15. Comparison Between Tire Rolling Resistance Measurements on a Flat Track and a Test Drum Under Non-Steady-State Conditions
lisa ydrefors, mattias hjort, sogol kharrazi - The Tire Society, 2025
ABSTRACT Rolling resistance has become one of the key parameters that vehicle industry is focusing on in their efforts to make vehicles more energy efficient. generally measured steady state a test drum results higher rolling than flat track measurements for same settings due curvature drum, which deforms tire more. Therefore, steady-state commonly converted with Clarks formula, as suggested measurement standards. Freudenmann et al. suggest an adjustment claiming it would improve accuracy conversions. The aim this work compare non-steady-state and measurements, performed at inflation pressure temperature, investigate whether or Freudenmanns formula can be used convert corresponding level when not state. Non-steady-state have been both track. As expected, good conversion because was empirically developed works conversions temperature pressure. However, dependency causing difference between increases decreases. Further research by including effects beneficial.
16. System for Calculating Profile-Based Tire Inflation Pressures Using Vehicle and Environmental Data
CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORP, 2025
A system for optimizing tire inflation by calculating personalized target pressures based on factors beyond just the default value. The system involves vehicles calculating profile-based target pressures for tires using data like tire make, history, vehicle use, and environment. The target pressures are then wirelessly transmitted to devices like tire fillers or user devices to inflate the tires to the calculated optimal pressures. This customized tire pressure management goes beyond just default values to provide better tire performance and longevity.
17. Additive Composition Comprising Fatty Acid and Polyamine Reaction Product for Silica-Filled Rubber Compounds
INGEVITY SOUTH CAROLINA LLC, 2025
Additive composition for improving properties of silica-filled rubber compounds in tires, such as fuel economy, traction, and wear resistance. The composition comprises a reaction product of fatty acid and polyamine. It is added to silica-filled rubber compounds, like tire treads, at low parts per hundred (phr) levels. The additive enhances silica dispersion and reduces payne effect, without affecting key rubber properties like viscosity, scorch, hardness, tensile strength, elongation, abrasion, and modulus. This enables improved tire performance, including lower rolling resistance, enhanced winter/dry traction, and better dry handling, without compromising other properties.
18. Polysaccharide-Elastomer Masterbatch with Controlled Coagulation and Drying Process
NUTRITION & BIOSCIENCES USA 4 INC, 2025
Polysaccharide-elastomer masterbatch for making reinforced rubber compositions with reduced water content. The masterbatch is made by mixing a polysaccharide dispersion with an elastomer latex and then coagulating and drying the mixture. This avoids adding water during masterbatch production, allowing lower water content in the final rubber compound. The polysaccharide provides reinforcement and reduces rolling resistance compared to carbon black. The masterbatch can be used in applications like tires, belts, footwear, coatings, etc.
19. Silica-Filled Rubber Compound with Polar Additive for Enhanced Dispersion and Stiffness
BRIDGESTONE EUROPE NV/SA [BE/BE], 2025
Silica-filled rubber compound for tires with high stiffness and reduced rolling resistance. The compound contains a specific additive with a dipole moment over 2 Debye, polar groups at one end of a hydrophobic carbon chain, and crosslinks only at the other end. This additive enhances silica dispersion and stiffness without increasing hysteresis compared to traditional plasticizers. The compound has a balance of stiffness and rolling resistance exceeding 1.15 in E'/TanD ratio.
20. Tire Tread with Differential Rubber Composition Featuring Central Section with Lower Storage Modulus and Higher Glass Transition Temperature
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2025
Tire tread design that improves rolling resistance while maintaining wet grip and reducing maximum lateral force for vehicles like SUVs and vans. The tread has a center section with a different rubber composition compared to the shoulder sections. The center rubber has lower storage modulus at 1% strain and higher glass transition temperature compared to the shoulder rubber. This allows lower rolling resistance and improved wet grip without sacrificing maximum lateral force. The center rubber composition can contain a styrene/alpha-methylstyrene copolymer resin.
Since they use less fuel and have less environmental impact, tire rolling resistance reduction techniques are revolutionizing the automotive industry. The difficulties of rolling resistance are being effectively addressed by manufacturers without sacrificing other crucial tire properties because of careful design and material optimization.
Get Full Report
Access our comprehensive collection of 68 documents related to this technology
Identify Key Areas of Innovation in 2025
