A Tire Industry Perspective on Tire Rolling Resistance

Tracey NorbergRubber Manufacturers Association

Presentation to theCalifornia Energy Commission

September 19, 2002

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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

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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

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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

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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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1980

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Ave

rage

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es R

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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

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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

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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

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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