Market and product
Smaller tyres could save fuel, says French expert
The world's largest tyre-maker unveiled a prototype of a 10-inch car tyre at the recent Challenge Bibendum, a global forum and rally for sustainable mobility held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Michelin claims the use of such smaller wheels would save 40 kilos of weight compared to a small car with conventional 14-inch wheels and this in turn would reduce fuel consumption.
If all the small cars currently on the roads in Brazil were to be equipped with smaller wheels, a total of 728,000 metric tons less of man and machine would need to be moved. This would lead to commensurate savings in fuel resources, said Miraton.
"The tyres are still at the experimental stage but if manufacturers show interest they could go into series production within the space of three to four years," said the Michelin expert.
(Source: www.earthtimes.org)
