Bridgestone Corporation has launched its third generation of run-flat tyres, which it will begin marketing in 2009 with focus on sales to original equipment manufacturers for installation in new passenger vehicles.

The company announced it has successfully developed new technologies and related their practical applications that improve the riding comfort of run-flat tyres. Run-flat tyres are tyres that can be driven on with zero inflation pressure for limited distance at reduced speeds.

As environmental awareness grows worldwide, automakers are accelerating the introduction of lighter, smaller vehicles.

In response to that trend, Bridgestone is confident that its third-generation run-flat tyres will significantly advance the use of run-flat tyres by original equipment manufacturers, thereby accelerating the elimination of spare tyres (emergency-use tyres) in passenger vehicles.

The company believes that further popularising the safe and environment-friendly run-flat tyres can make a major contribution to society.

According to Bridgestone, while there are various ways to eliminate spare tyres the company believes that run-flat tyres are the best way of eliminating spare tyres because of significant advantages offered by them, including:

(1) Improved driving stability when the tyre punctures
(2) Greater peace of mind as it avoids the need to change tyres in dangerous places, such as on highways
(3) Continued mobility not only when punctures damage the tyre treads in contact with the road surface, but even when punctures damage the tyre sidewalls.

Eliminating spare tyres from all vehicles would help save resources by reducing the approximately 59 million spare tyres annually.

Furthermore, CO2 emissions over the spare tyre lifecycle – from raw material procurement to disposal – could be lowered by approximately 2 millions tonnes of CO2 per year.

Additional CO2 emissions can be reduced by the elimination of wheels for the spare tyres. – TradeArabia News Service