Automation: Car’s Performance Improved By New Technology

The necessity for more automation and faster size changes in tires has resulted in a manufacturing transition in the tire business during the last few decades. Improvements in factory design, as well as advancements in tire manufacturing machinery, process equipment, and tire design, have all resulted from this transformation. New tire materials, as well as increasing OEM and customer economy demands, have also contributed to part of the improvements. These and other developments in tire manufacturing are detailed in Smithers Rapra’s latest market report, “The Future of Tire Manufacturing to 2024.”

Improvements in manufacturing processes have been ongoing since the earliest tire plants, and have accelerated in recent years as a result of a greater focus on environmental issues. New factories would assist meet that need while also making it easier to operate new machinery. Automation has also benefited significantly, albeit there are still significant cost savings to be realized, as well as increased environmental laws to comply with. Tire makers will continue to focus on improving production performance as a result of these considerations.

REGIONAL AREA DEVELOPMENTS

Demand for tires and the expansion of the tire business are fuelling regional and global industrial expansion. The distribution of tire manufacturing capabilities and output across the world’s major areas is based on local tire demand from OEM and replacement market purchasers, as well as favourable cost of production variables.

Tire manufacturers prefer to develop local plants in their most relevant sales locations, according to “The Future of Tire Manufacturing through 2024,” with Asia being the most recent priority. The inverse is also true, with Asian manufacturers placing production near key clients such as American OEMs. As a result, tire production in North America is increasing, while the aging European industry is anticipated to lose market share over the next five years. Raw material costs are very stable over the world, while labour and energy prices vary by location or country.

TIRE DEMAND DRIVES MANUFACTURING

Global tire demand is the ultimate driver of tire production, with current vehicles providing continuous tire wear and maintenance demands and new vehicle purchases demanding OEM tire installation. From 2019 to 24, worldwide tire demand is expected to grow at a rate of 4% per year in unit terms.

The worldwide tire industry is predicted to reach 19.25 million tons in 2019 and grow at a 3.4 percent compound annual growth rate to 22.75 million tons by 2024, according to output tonnage.

A range of economic, technological, regulatory, demographic, and consumer trends are driving and shaping this development at the global, regional, and national levels, including alternative powertrains and autonomous vehicles, advancements in materials, including renewable alternatives, and changing customer expectations, such as higher fuel efficiency with reduced emissions. Despite tire producers’ adjustments to consumer labelling schemes in Europe and, increasingly, abroad, there is still a high-performance trend toward larger OEM tire sizes/rim diameters, as well as persistent pressure on automakers to satisfy emissions and fuel economy criteria for individual vehicles as well as fleeing.

THE IMPACT OF VEHICLE DESIGN AND TYPE

Tire demand and manufacturing are influenced by trends in both established and emerging parts of the automotive industry, needing a great degree of planning and versatility. For example, a continued shift away from passenger cars toward light trucks in established markets coexists with growth in emerging markets in entry-level vehicle segments. As evidenced by the continuous high growth of high-performance automobiles as well as environmentally friendly automobiles and fleets, changes at the OEM level have been occurring for years.

CHANGES IN TIRE DESIGN AND TYPE

Some of the most important or desirable properties of a tire include protection, stability, wet and dry traction, snow performance/wet performance, handling, high rolling efficiency, noise, and life (miles)/longevity. New tire technologies are constantly being developed, and each year sees substantial advancements. Tread/shape, material shapes, and material chemistry are only a few of the tire qualities that are changing, and that’s without even taking into account the different model tires.

Tire manufacturers have pledged to produce increasingly technologically advanced tires (e.g., with sensors to monitor tread depth, temperature, and provide real-time warnings to drivers), run-flat tires (including self-sealing tires, self-inflating tires, air-free tire technologies, and reduced noise or noise-dampening tire technology), and run-flat tires (including self-sealing tires, self-inflating tires, air-free tire technologies, and reduced noise or noise-dampening (important for quiet electric vehicles).

In order to make these technically advanced tires, new molds, laser cutting tools, new test equipment (particularly for noise), and material changes such as various resins, silica, and aramid fibers have all had an impact on tire manufacturing.

TIRE REQUIREMENTS FOR EV

The use of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing, and one visible outcome is that tire variations are becoming more complex. This will result in more SKUs due to the increasing range of OE tire types and sizes (for sizes, see check wheel fitment calculator),) (stocking unit). Multiplication Higher wear resistance is vital on EVs because traditional tires wear 30 percent faster than on regular vehicles.

EV tires must have an optimal footprint shape and contact pressure distribution to prevent uneven wear. Rolling resistance must be decreased even more to enhance battery range, and the added weight of EVs may need even lighter tires. Quiet electric vehicles, in addition to the present pressure from labelling systems, requires an emphasis on noise reduction.

THE AV TIRE’S EVOLUTION

Many EV tire adjustments also pertain to autonomous vehicles (which are anticipated to be completely or mostly electric), but as autonomous driving becomes more widespread, more changes will occur that will need to be scaled up alongside traditional production.

Tire sensing and communication capabilities are becoming more prevalent at both the OEM and aftermarket levels. Tire condition and wear sensors, as well as intelligent tires, are being developed, with some nearing market readiness ahead of the anticipated significant move to autonomous vehicles.

As autonomous self-driving cars grow more popular, tire-vehicle communication will become more important, necessitating the usage of tire sensors. Connected tires could help with path sensing, vehicle activity, and predictive maintenance (wear/damage sensing).

The emphasis will be on little noise and great ride quality. As the need for run-flat tires and, eventually, non-pneumatic tires grows, so will the demand for run-flat tires. Light vehicle tires can be identified by their tall and skinny shape (for aerodynamics and other attributes), sensor technology, no speed rating (driving speeds may be programmed and limited), improved ride, reduced NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), ultra-low rolling resistance (improving fuel economy), and possible run-flat technology as autonomous vehicles become more common (if lightweight enough).