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In the 1990s, tire engineers discovered that if they used silane-treated
silica instead of carbon black as a reinforcing filler in tread compounds, tire
rolling resistance was reduced. The tires also gripped better on slippery
roads.
Studies have shown that silica-reinforced “green” tires can reduce tire
rolling resistance by up to 20 percent, which can reduce vehicle fuel
requirements by as much as 5 percent. Widespread use of these green tires could
save millions of barrels of oil per year and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions significantly.
Additionally, silica-reinforced tires are more resilient than traditional
tires. This gives them better traction on wet and icy surfaces and can reduce
stopping distances by as much as 15 percent, making the roads safer for
everyone.
In the past, the cost to manufacture the silane coupling agents used to
produce silica-reinforced tread compounds made these tires too costly for many
consumers. However, a recent breakthrough in silane production technology is
making the production of silica-reinforced green tires more affordable.
For more information about this new technology, read Technology Breakthrough in Drive
for Greener, Safer Motoring. (PDF=3MB)
For information about silanes from Dow Corning, visit the silanes website.
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