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A Tire Industry Perspective on Tire Rolling Resistance
Tracey NorbergRubber Manufacturers Association
Presentation to theCalifornia Energy Commission
September 19, 2002
2
RMA Overview• U.S. trade association for the rubber manufacturing
industry• Represents all major tire manufacturers in the U.S. and
over 100 engineered products manufacturers• Key functions:
– Advocacy on government laws and regulations– Tire safety and performance standards– Scrap tire market and technical resources– Technical standards for engineered products– Tire and rubber industry statistics and information– Communications on industry issues
3
RMA Tire Company Members
North America
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RMA Tire Member Presence in CA
• Approximately:– 323 company-owned stores– 595 independent retail outlets – 28 commercial tire service centers– 1 retail zone office– 6 retail district offices– 6 tire distribution centers– 1 North American corporate headquarters
5
RMA Environmental Advocacy• Promote sound science• Educate government about industry needs and
issues• Support environmental progress that is technically
and economically sound• Protect formulation and manufacturing flexibility
and confidentiality• Encourage opportunities for innovation• Individual member companies also have
environmental goals and policies
6
Tire Industry Accomplishments
• Lower rolling resistance tires
• Reduction in quantity of raw materials used to make tires
• Increased average tire life
• Retreading – 16.2 million tires retreaded in U.S. in 2001
• Recycled content in new tires
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
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50
1980
1981
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1984
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1987
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1989
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1997
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2001
Ave
rage
Mil
es R
ecei
ved
(00
0's)
Source: Panel of Vehicle Owning Households
Average Tire Life 1980 – 2001
1981 – 28,000 miles
2001 – 43,000 miles
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Tire Industry Design Flexibility Needs• Dynamic industry – new and evolving products demand
new materials and rubber compounds• Specialty Products• Emerging Technologies and Trends
– Recycled content in tires– Low profile/larger diameter tires for passenger tire applications
• Globalization of industry– Emerging global technical and environmental regulations
affecting tire content, performance and testing– Need to be able to manufacture tires for multiple markets
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TREAD Act(Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability
and Documentation Act)
• U.S. law passed November 1, 2000• Congressional response to August 2000 tire recall• Mandates 12 separate NHTSA rulemakings• Impacts yet to be anticipated fully, since some
regulations still in development• Key rulemakings with potential to affect tire
construction and performance
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Tire Testing• NHTSA Proposed rule (3/6/02)
– Updated tests for high speed and endurance– New tests for road hazard, bead unseating, low inflation
and effects of tire aging
• Proposal would set overly stringent standards– Current tires are safe – new tests would require over-
engineered tires– Could require dramatic changes in tire construction and
performance
• Final rule expected Fall 2002
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Tire Pressure Monitoring System• NHTSA final rule (5/30/02)• Mandates tire pressure monitoring systems on all new
cars and light trucks starting with 2004 model year• System will notify drivers when a tire’s inflation
pressure is 25 or 30% below placard pressure• RMA concerned that this will allow some tires to
operate at inflation pressures that are insufficient to carry the vehicle load
• RMA petitioned NHTSA to adopt a reserve pressure standard
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Tire Design Factors• Tire design involves balancing among a
complex list of tire performance criteria including:Load Ride and handling
Strength Noise
Endurance Rolling resistance
Traction Temperature resistance
Bead unseating Tread wear and tire life
Speed rating
Mass
Recycled content in tires
13
Tire Design Factors and Trade-Offs
• Diagram is illustrative of trade-offs – does not represent any specific tires
• Tires cannot be designed for maximum performance in all areas – involves trade-offs to meet customer needs
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Pressure Effects on Fuel Economy
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Inflation Sensitivity Vs. Rolling Resistance
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Pressure Effects on Tire Wear Performance
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Pressure Effects on Handling Performance
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Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART
• Pressure, Alignment, Rotation, Tread• Industry consumer education campaign on proper
tire care and safety• Proper tire care maximizes safety, performance, fuel
economy and tire wear• Under inflation is a tire’s #1 enemy• RMA survey research found that nearly 90% of
motorists incorrectly check tire pressure
19
Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART
• Goals:– Communicate tire safety information to policy
makers, media & the public– Establish key partnerships to enhance message
delivery of RMA tire safety program– Raise consumer awareness of the importance of
proper tire care and safety
• 2003 regional focus on West – CA, OR, WA
20
RMA Summary
• Must view rolling resistance in context of all environmental, safety and performance parameters
• Must recognize trade-offs and limitations in tire design (performance, tire life, cost, etc.)
• Maintaining proper tire inflation pressure will have greatest impact on fuel economy