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The public is generally unaware of tyre construction and its inherent antagonistic performance, despite the tyres of vehicles being the sole point of contact with the road. The reality is that they are the crucial factor behind the ability of the driver to maintain control under all conditions.

The tyre is a complex and high-tech safety product that represents more than 100 years of ongoing manufacturing innovation. The tyre is made up of many materials including the very best materials that the metallurgical, textile and chemical industries are able to produce. There is no room for even the slightest defect in the production of these materials and the manufacturing of the product is an extremely complex process.

The materials that compose the tyre are a mixture of synthetic and natural rubber. Applied to these materials are a number of specific substances that are designed to guarantee performance, durability and safety. These include mineral oil, reinforcing fillers (carbon black and silica) and vulcanising agents (sulphur), which act as the catalysts to accelerate the vulcanisation process.

A tyre has multiple functions and must achieve a balance within a series of parameters. These include supporting the load, resisting, hanging and supporting high and low speeds, perfectly adhering without generating too high a rolling resistance – this is regardless of whether the ground is dry, wet, clean, irregular, or deformed...

The rapid development in the field of automotive technology as well as the growth in traffic density over the past decades imposes considerable demands on legislators to adequately address this (technological and behavioural) progress. Ideally, legislation should be easy to enforce to ensure the highest possible levels of safety for road users. At the same time, it should not restrict but instead promote both innovation and technical progress.

In the field of chassis technology that focuses on tyres and related systems, considerable achievements have been made with regard to increasing traffic safety and enhancing reliable functional performance.

Based on statistics, the main reason behind tyre failures have to be attributed to the drivers/vehicle owners, predominantly resulting from failure to perform proper maintenance, i.e. running with under inflated tyres and excessive tread wear.

Update, 4 Jan 2008