Description:

Introduction: Electrical vehicles generally require low friction tyres. Low rolling resistance is important to ensure that the tyre does not wear out due to the high torque that occurs due to the inertia. Less friction also entails much better efficiency and longer tyre life. Tyres that have low rolling resistance do not make too much noise. The less the resistance, the farther the EVs tyre will go. As the name suggests, these tyres are constructed in such a way that it requires less power to move the vehicle which will result in better fuel economy. These tyres will allow the energy that a vehicle generates to be consumed by the engine with significant decrease in the effort or usage of energy from the engine for moving the vehicle. The energy required to roll the wheels is calculated in rolling resistance. A high rolling resistance tyre (LRR) will consume more energy which is not cost effective while the low rolling resistance tyres are cost effective since it saves the fuel and increases the economy. 

Advantages:

• High quality material of construction with Silica: The normal tyres are manufactured with different rubber materials but the low rolling resistance tyres are constructed with a mixture of Silica in addition to the traditional compounds used for manufacturing tyres. The natural and synthetic rubbers used in the normal tyres are not capable of reducing the resistance and creating smooth ride quality.
• Shallower design for better traction: The innovative design of low rolling resistance tyres provides good traction to drive safely on wet and dry conditions. The conventional tyres have deeper tread pattern that is useful for driving in rough terrains and not on tarmac but the LRR tyres are suitable for driving on tarmac with comfort and smoothness.
• Improved fuel efficiency: The materials used and the design element ensure that the low rolling resistance tyres provide maximum fuel efficiency. The shallow and high quality design ensures low resistance while driving which means that less effort is put by the engine in rolling the tyres which results in better fuel economy.
• Conventional tyre standards: The low rolling resistance tyres meet the conventional tyre standards in terms of traction, temperature resistance and durability of the tread on the surface of the tyres.

Limitations:

• Reduced grip on roads: The low rolling resistance tyres are designed to be used on smooth roads. This results in the tyre getting lower grip when compared with the conventional tyres. The LRR cannot be used for racing or for speeding. It is hazardous to perform cornering manoeuvres like that done in racing. The older LRR tyres are known for being worn out soon.
• Require to be fully inflated: There is a need to keep the tyres fully inflated for maximum performance. The fuel efficiency is said to become less if the tyres are not fully inflated all the time.
• Fuel saving is insignificant for SUVs: In comparison to conventional tyres these tyres do not provide the best fuel efficiency as a result of which the SUV and sedan owners prefer to opt for better road grip and safety on harsh terrains that the conventional tyres offer.

Process: Rolling resistance is the energy lost from drag and friction of a tire rolling over a surface. The phenomenon is complex, and nearly all operating conditions can affect the final outcome. Conventionally fuelled passenger vehicles use about 4%–11% of their fuel just to overcome tire rolling resistance. All-electric passenger vehicles can use approximately 25% of their energy for this purpose. For heavy trucks, this quantity can be as high as 30%–33%.  A 10% reduction in rolling resistance would improve fuel economy approximately 3% for light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Installing low rolling resistance tyres can help fleets reduce fuel costs. It's also important to ensure proper tire inflation.

Commercialization: Low rolling resistance tyres with a wide band width are expected to account for bulk of the overall demand, while sales across the aftermarket segment are anticipated to surge incredibly. Furthermore, lucrative growth promises are in store for the passenger vehicles sector, as the global ownership of cars and other automobiles is increasing. Demand for low rolling resistance tyres have been inclining significantly across the historical period, as major automotive manufacturers look to leverage efficient tire technology to enhance automotive performance. As fuel economy concerns acquire precedence, car manufacturers are looking for solutions which would enable less fuel consumption while in transit.

The major players in the global low rolling resistance (LRR) tire market are Apollo Tyres Ltd. (India), The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (Japan), Kumho Tire (South Korea), Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. (China), Zhongce Rubber Group Co., Ltd (ZC-Rubber) (Germany), Bridgestone Corporation (Japan), Nokian Tyres plc (Finland), MRF Tyres (India), Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (Japan),The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (US), Pirelli & C. S.p.A. (Italy), Hankook Tire (South Korea), Continental AG (Germany), Michelin (France), Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (US), Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (US), and Toyo Tire & Rubber Company (Japan). 

The reduction in vehicle weight provided by wide-base LRR tyres would offer tremendous opportunities for growth. Market vendors will concentrate more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while retaining their positions in the slow-growing segments to optimize the opportunities. Examples of low rolling resistance tires are:

• Michelin Energy Saver A/S, Michelin Premier A/S, Michelin X-Ice Xi3
• Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
• Continental TrueContact Tour, Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology
• Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter
• Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus
• Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus, Pirelli Scorpion Verde