New tyre technology improves safety
Continental has unveiled a new tyre that has embedded microchips to improve overall safetyGlobal tyre giant Continental has launched a new product today, which is expected to improve pedestrian safety by significant margins. Called the ContiSquealContact, the new tyre "offers superior performance in terms of braking distance, lateral guidance and durability," says the German company, along with a pioneering safety aspect.
The new tyres are embedded with a microchip system that can "emit the same noise as a powerful sports car or a beefy engine" according to the company's press statement. In turn, this warns nearby pedestrians of the vehicle's presence, potentially reducing the likelihood of a car-to-person collision.
Continental's Dr. Acu Stics described the new product as a breakthrough. "International guidelines mean that modern tyres have become increasingly quiet, so that nowadays many pedestrians can hardly even hear a car approaching, especially in town traffic.
"The only vehicles that can now really be picked out through the traffic noise in the cities are high performance sports cars," said Dr. Stics.
Using a new system, which it calls Applied Sound Design, Continental also fits a compact but robust loudspeaker to the inner wall of the tyre. Because of the microchip, driver's can choose between different engine sounds at the touch remote plipper.
Dr. Stics explained that the sounds were comparable to high performance German sports cars and lumpy American SUVs: "Acoustically this [new product] turns a modest compact car into a Porsche Carrera 911 or a Hummer. You can even hear the tyres squealing as the car sets off or corners."
"As the sound can be switched off, drivers only attract attention where necessary," said Stics, "So the noises no longer have any annoying side effects."
Other engine sounds can be downloaded off the web for the ContiSquealContact and it's rumoured that other tyre manufacturers such as Michelin and Bridgestone are working on similar products.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
