The major tire manufacturers—Michelin, Goodyear, and Firestone—spend billions of dollars each year for research and development. The fruits of that expense and effort are new advances in tire safety, performance, and appearance. Most of us take our tires for granted, but they are our one connection with the road. Consider some of these recent tire improvements and introductions:

Run-Flat Tires
One of the scariest things that can happen to a driver, particularly a woman driver, is to get stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. Dare you trust someone who stops to help? Should you risk walking for help or changing the tire yourself, knowing that most pedestrians killed on the highway were doing just that? New tire technology is helping to eliminate that problem. Bridgestone has recently introduced the run-flat tire. This new tire will support the car for up to 50 miles at 55 miles per hour, giving drivers an opportunity to get to a tire store or service station. Some automakers, such as BMW, Infiniti, and Lexus are offering these tires as original equipment on some models. One drawback to these tires is that rarely can they be repaired. You usually have to buy a new tire.

Michelin, too, is addressing the flat tire danger. Their new PAX system tires are designed to support a car for up to 125 miles at 55 miles per hour if the tire deflates. The PAX tire is actually a tire/wheel package. It consists of a tire, a wheel, an inner support ring, and a tire inflation monitor. If the event, the tire deflates, it actually only deflates about half way and the car comes to rest on the inner support ring. The monitor alerts the driver to low tire pressure with a light on the car’s control panel. Since the tire never totally deflates, a visual reading is difficult.

Saving Fuel
With gasoline at almost $3 per gallon, everyone is interested in improving gas mileage. Goodyear and Michelin are addressing this issue with their Low Rolling Resistance tires (LRR). These tires move more easily along the road while still meeting the U.S. safety standards. LRR tires can help your car get up to 3 percent more miles to a gallon of fuel. Because of their fuel efficiency, LRR tires are standard equipment on most hybrid cars and offered as an option on many others. As replacement tires, they cost a little more –about $3 to $12 per tire — but will more than pay for themselves at the gas pump.

Reducing Noise
Another new Goodyear introduction is the Fortera tire. This tire uses what Goodyear called “SilentArmor” technology and reduces the inside noise while still gripping the pavement. Designed with the SUV owner in mind, this tire is a mixture of toughness, utility, and style. These tires are also designed to reduce punctures with a thin coating of Dupont “Kevlar,” a Teflon relative.

Trucking It
Truck tires are seeing an improvement in heavy load ratings. Traditionally, light truck owners had to choose between passenger comfort and being able to haul a full load. No longer. Many manufacturers are featuring these versatile tires that support the weight of hauling, yet give passengers a smooth ride. They cost a little more, but these tires eliminate the need to have two sets of tires for different purposes.

Spend a little time learning about tires the next time you buy a new car or go to replace your existing tires. New technology is helping to keep drivers safe and comfortable. Remember: the right tire can be the difference between a near miss and an accident. Don’t ignore your tires. They can save your life.

By Sandy Mitchell