Posted on 02/15/2007 10:40:16 AM PST by Red Badger
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (YRC)—the seventh-largest tire manufacturer in the world—has developed a process that combines citrus oil with natural rubber to form a new compound it calls Super Nanopower Rubber (SNR). The major component of citrus oil is d-limonene.
The process reduces the use of petroleum products in tires by 80% and is part of YRC’s global EcoMotion environmental program. The first SNR product is the Decibel Super E-Spec, an all-new consumer passenger tire.
The fuel-saving E-Spec tire features an air permeation suppression film, a polymer lining designed to reduce air leakage from the tire, therby helping to maintain appropriate inflation levels.
Underinflated tires consume more power, thus using more fuel. The E-Spec is also a lot lighter and conserves gasoline by reducing rolling resistance by 18 percent. Low rolling resistance tires improve fuel efficiency by minimizing the energy wasted (as heat) as the tire rolls down the road. —Jim MacMaster, executive vice president, Business Division, of Yokohama Tire Corporation
The E-Spec tire featuring the SNR compound will be available in Japan later in the year, but no date has been determined for release in the US market.
Hey that's my old girlfriend from Korea.
Not bad as gals go but a little goofy about Hankook tires. I got reassigned stateside and she wanted to stay with her family so we parted ways.
A few years later she sent me a letter telling me she'd got married. She sent me pictures of her two kids (strangest looking kids I have ever seen). But she and the Michelin Man seem happy.
W
The picture was shot on a Hollywood back lot. We never really went to the moon at all.
Shhh!
The problem pre-WWII was that most natural rubber came from Asia, which with the Japanese running around invading most it, put supplies under threat. Since the Japanese are less able (and inclined) plus the US Navy is more than capable of sinking anything threatening shipping on the Pacific, supplies should be more stable.
The other good news on natural rubber will be that it might (just might) boost GDP in countries like Congo and other West African states (which would come on stream and keep Asian suppliers from gouging everyone!)
Wow. Is the the old or new formula? Buy a set of each and run a durability test.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.