By integrating silica into tire compounds, companies like Nokian Tyres can produce safer, high-performing, and long-lasting tires that balance various trade-offs drivers face. Find out how.
When it comes to tires, drivers want it all.
And why wouldn’t they? Of course, they want to be safe on the road. But they also want high performance. They want their tires to last a long time. And they wouldn’t mind saving on fuel in the process.
Unfortunately, tires come with tradeoffs. Tiremakers have to balance safety, performance and efficiency. That’s why, for instance, you shouldn’t drive a winter tire in the summer or find an all season tire that thrives on ice.
But as innovation continues to transform how our tires work, there’s one material helping tire companies like Nokian Tyres reduce those tradeoffs: silica. Silica is a naturally occurring compound found in many materials, such as quartz, sand and gravel. It can also be used in tires.
While there’s no magic bullet in the tire process, silica carries several benefits that help drivers balance safety, performance, durability and efficiency. Here’s how.
Wet Grip
When building a checklist of what a tire needs to deliver, safety always has to top the list. For most drivers, that means gripping the road well when conditions aren’t at their best.
Silica improves tires’ grip on wet surfaces. The small particles of silica interact with the rubber compound, creating a surface that is more flexible and capable of forming a better bond with wet surfaces. Since all season tires are designed to help North American drivers deal with a diverse array of weather, silica plays a valuable role in making tires versatile.
Stronger Handling
But safety doesn’t have to come at the expense of performance. Silica’s unique properties allow the tire to maintain flexibility and strength while still providing strong traction and control.
By improving the flexibility and heat dissipation of the rubber, silica allows tires to respond more quickly to steering inputs. This is even true at higher speeds, since silica helps imbue tires with toughness to withstand high torque.
Long Life
High performance tires often degrade quickly. Some come with mileage warranties as low as 25,000 miles, because the soft rubber compounds that enable elite handling also wear down quickly.
Thanks to silica, tires like the Nokian Tyres Surpass AS01 are able to last longer. Nokian Tyres’ new ultra high performance tire comes with a treadwear warranty of 55,000 miles. That’s because silica helps improve the wear resistance of rubber, making tires last longer.
Enhanced Efficiency
And thanks in part to silica, your fill-up or charge will last longer, too.
Silica helps reduce a tire’s rolling resistance – which is defined as the energy required to propel a vehicle along the road at a constant speed. Several factors influence rolling resistance – road surface, tire pressure, speed, and even temperature.
A tire’s tread compound can make a big difference, too. That’s where silica comes into play yet again. Silica helps lower the internal friction between a tire’s rubber molecules, and it allows the tire to more effectively dissipate heat.
Silica also improves the flexibility of a tire’s rubber, helping it maintain its shape as it contacts the road. That allows for a smoother ride that drains less energy, helping you maximize the miles (or kilometers) you get from your trip to the gas tank or charger.
Are you ready to purchase a set of tires infused with silica for safer driving, higher performance, longer life and better efficiency? The Nokian Tyres Surpass AS01 might be the right fit for your needs, especially if you drive a high-performance vehicle.
Visit Nokian Tyres’ dealer locator to find an affiliated tire shop near you.
Please remember that it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure their tires are safe and suitable for their vehicle and to follow the vehicle’s manufacturer´s guidelines for proper use and maintenance. Consult your closest Nokian Tyres dealer or your vehicle’s manufacturer for specific advice.
