Technology
New Technology of the 3rd Generation
Bridgestone's first run-flat tire was introduced in the early 1980s with an aim to keep disabled drivers' vehicle mobile, even after complete air loss. The Porsche 959 was the first mass-produced vehicle equipped with run-flat tires, making them standard equipment in 1987. In this early application, these tires could not offer the smooth, comfortable ride as compared to conventional tires.
Striving to solve this problem, Bridgestone developed a second-generation run-flat tire in 2005 which offered improved riding comfort. And, in 2009, Bridgestone introduced new technology in the third generation run-flat tires, which offers almost the same riding comfort as conventional tires.
- New Sidewall-Reinforced Rubber
- New Ply
- Cooling Fin
New Sidewall-Reinforced Rubber
In the past, run-flat tires have faced the challenge of how to minimize the heat generated through the deformation of rubber. By adoption of “NanoPro-Tech”, we have created a new sidewall-reinforced rubber that reduces friction between carbon molecules, thus reducing heat generation. Compared with second-generation sidewall-reinforced rubber, the new rubber can reduce heat generation by half when driving on tires that have lost air pressure.
New Ply
Ply is a key structural material within a tire. Bridgestone has pioneered the use of a new ply material that shrinks as heat is applied, helping the tire to resist deformation at lower air pressures. This in turn, reduces the rate at which heat builds up over time.
Cooling Fin
By having a protrusion (Cooling Fin) on the side of a tire, the movement of air around the tire's sidewall is accelerated as the tire spins. This provides a cooling effect to the tire's surface area.
Support-Ring type Run-Flat System
The Bridgestone Support Ring inside the tire supports the vehicle after a loss of air pressure allowing the tire to function and the vehicle to continue on the road. It can be easily fitted on designer wheels as well as ordinary tires. The system is especially suited to passenger cars and SUVs with high aspect ratios such as 65 and 75 series vehicles.
