Tyres to get smaller, not bigger

The ballooning size of car tyres could soon come to an end – and chances are car enthusiasts aren't going to like the new alternative, unless they're into the Los Angeles low-rider scene.

With the number of motor vehicles on the world's roads set to double over the next 40 years, Michelin, one of the world's biggest tyre producers, is worried that there may not be enough rubber to go around. Thus it has come up with a whacky plan to develop undersized go-kart-style tyres that have the unfortunate effect of making a humble hatchback look like something out of a cartoon.

The 10-inch diameter tyre weighs 25 per cent less than a regular tyre and uses one-third less material to make. The example Michelin gave was this: if all the common hatchback tyres (175/65R14) on cars in Brazil were replaced by its 175/70R10 wheel, it would save 728,000 tonnes of rubber and steel.

The Brazil example was no coincidence. Michelin show examples of the 'new' tyres at this week's Michelin Bibendum energy conference in the South American nation. The tyres were demonstrated a pair of otherwise identical Citroen hatchbacks.

The Carsales Network was let loose on the Nelson Piquet Autodrome racetrack to sample the difference. And we can report that while the regular tyres felt more responsive and had more direct steering, to be frank, had it not been for the back-to-back test, chances are most drivers wouldn't pick the difference.

Michelin claims that braking performance and cornering grip is the same as a regular tyre -- only the steering feels different because of the taller sidewall.

"Whenever we introduce a new tyre technology that goes in a new direction, it must be the same or better performance than what we currently have," says Michelin Vice President of Technical Communications, Pascal Couasnon.

"We will not go backwards."

So far, the tyres are only experimental and are some years away from going into production. Indeed, Michelin only had one spare set for its test drive program.

Couasnon says the tyres have mainly been developed for use on city cars.

"I don't expect you will see these tyres on every type of car, but it is a possibility if there is not enough rubber to go around then we need to find new ways to make sure everyone can still be driving on four wheels.

"Some people think the design looks unusual, but maybe they need to change the way they think about the appearance of tyres. At the end of the day it is for -- and dictated by -- the environment."

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