Reducing tire rolling resistance through pre-heating

Abstract

A system for and method of reducing the rolling resistance of a tire by pre-heating the tire prior to use.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims priority to, and benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 075,018, entitled “METHODS OF ENHANCING TIRE PERFORMANCE UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIALS,” and filed on Jun. 24, 2008, the disclosure of which being incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present disclosure generally relates to tires, such as automobile tires, and to methods of improving tire performance. More particularly, the invention concerns a system for and method of reducing rolling resistance through pre-heating and to tires adapted to perform the same.[0004]2. Discussion of Prior Art[0005]Properly functioning tires are important in maintaining optimal fuel efficiency. Perhaps the most important performance characteristic to that end is “rolling resistance,” which is the tendency for a tire to stop rolling under load due in large to the hysteretic losses in the tire material. Many varia...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention concerns a system for and method of reducing the rolling resistance of a tire through pre-heating. As such, the invention is useful for enabling optimal tire performance over a wider range of ambient start-up temperatures. The invention is further useful for tuning characteristics of the tire, and thus improving fuel economy. The inventive tire, in some embodiments, uses active material enabled means to reliably and rapidly achieve and then maintain desired temperatures.

Problems solved by technology

Concernedly, despite the desire to maintain optimal rolling resistance across differing conditions, conventional tires typically present non-adaptive solutions.

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