An area of constant and continuous research into new materials and methodologies is in the manufacture of vehicle tires. With the demand for tires hitting tens of millions of units on an annual basis, any cost or material improvements have tremendous economic and environmental advantages. In this regard, tires as a race car component and as a consumer item have been looked into extensively by the top tire manufacturers. And while carbon fiber as a material is known for its lightness and strength, and are qualities which are eminently suitable for tires, it is also known for being brittle.

Which is why the combined efforts of scientists from tires companies and national science facilities have cooperated on a process known as Vacuum Grown Carbon Fiber or VGCF. VGCF has been shown to provide improved strength and stiffness that contributes to a tire’s longevity and improved fuel economy. Together with cost pressures from global competition and stricter government regulations, the need for rapid technological evolution becomes evident. Carbon fiber in tires has been shown to considerably dampen vibration and has increased abrasion resistance. Research has consequently shown that VGCF can partially replace carbon black and silica additives while improving tire performance. Carbon black is used to provide electrical conductivity, which prevents the buildup of static charges. To reduce rolling resistance, increase tire stiffness and improve fuel efficiency, silica is sometimes substituted for carbon black. But silica is significantly less conductive, which results in the unwanted buildup of electrical charges. VGCF, when used as the replacement additive, can provide directional stiffness, reduced rolling resistance, and improved fuel efficiency while improving electrical conductivity and avoiding static charge buildup. Partial replacement of carbon black with VGCF additives leads to measurable improvements in fuel economy for all vehicle tires.

It’s only natural that the first implementations of these technologies were found in the racing slicks found in racing cars such as those in Formula 1. While tire compounds developed for specific traction and longevity properties envelop the casing, the sidewalls of these race car components contain carbon fiber inserts that increase stiffness. The benefit of this for racing is that the stiffer carbon fiber sidewall provides better steering precision and much more responsive handling.

Not surprisingly, consumer tires have benefited from these advances in race car components, materials and design. High performance street tires now feature woven carbon fiber composite fabrics that are stronger, lighter and yet longer-wearing and smoother running. Of course, such advances don’t come cheap, which is why these technologies are more common at the moment in tires used for high performance applications.

As a material, carbon fiber has been a key component in race car components and new vehicle designs, such as those used by BMW for its hybrid series of automobiles. The use of carbon fiber as a race car component and body material for exotic cars will slowly be overtaken by applications in more mainstream automobiles. Through constant research and development, technologies like VGCF are making composites more accessible and affordable to manufacturers seeking an alternative to lightweight steels and alloys.

race car components
carbon fiber

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