By Eddie POKU
The notion that tires are merely colored rubber filled with air grossly underestimates their importance in road safety. Tires are a crucial component of vehicular safety, and making informed choices about them is paramount. It’s high time we shift from using worn tires or expired tires, as well as choosing tires that are not suitable to the Ghanaian climate, where they may not be made for the local climate.
I am sure you are thinking that different tyres for different climates are just a scheme to make more money from car owners. Tire manufacturers are interested in bringing you good tires at prices you can afford and they make some profit on them without law suits that can ruin their reputation and business.
Allow me to highlight some of the things tire makers do to bring tires to market. One company leading the charge in tire safety and performance testing is Continental. Since 2012, Continental has conducted over a million test drives! How do you get to run over a million test drives?
Well here is how; Continental operates an Automated Indoor Braking Analyzer (AIBA), a state-of-the-art facility that sets the standard for tire testing globally. This unique facility allows for precise, reproducible tests to assess the performance of car and van tires on various road surfaces—both dry and wet—under controlled laboratory conditions.
What makes the AIBA facility stand out is not just its unique test environment but also its use of cutting-edge technology. Unmanned, rail-guided vehicles are accelerated up to 120 km/h along a 100-meter track, using an electromagnetic linear drive technology derived from modern roller coasters. These vehicles then undergo autonomous braking on a 75-meter track, all without the need for fuel, highlighting a push towards more sustainable testing practices.
Meletis Xigakis, Head of Global Tire Testing at Continental, underscores the facility’s importance, “The AIBA facility is one of the most modern braking test facilities for tires in the world. Even after more than a decade in operation, we achieve a particularly high level of comparability of test results in a fully air-conditioned, weather-independent, and fully automated environment.” This means environments can be simulated.
Continental’s commitment extends beyond mere testing. The facility has played a critical role in developing tires like the WinterContact TS 870, which led its class in the ADAC’s 2023 winter tire test due to its superior performance on wintry and wet roads. Such achievements are the result of rigorous testing that includes over 25 million kilometers of tire testing annually, equivalent to circling the globe approximately 625 times.
Furthermore, the AIBA facility exemplifies Continental’s commitment to sustainability. By using electromagnetic linear drive technology, the facility has saved significant amounts of fuel and reduced CO2 emissions—16,600 litters of fuel and nearly 40 tons of CO2 have been saved over the past 12 years. This facility is saving the planet even as it saves lives. Moreover, since the end of 2020, the electricity for the AIBA has been sourced entirely from renewable energy, aligning with global sustainability initiatives.
Tire manufacturers are going the length to ensure tire safety. Continental’s extensive efforts in tire testing are not just about adhering to safety norms but setting new standards for performance and environmental stewardship in the tire industry.
As we become more deliberate in our tire choices, let us lean towards options that promise not only safety and performance but also sustainability. By choosing wisely, we contribute to safer roads and a healthier planet. Let this be a call to action for all, especially in regions like Ghana, to abandon outdated practices and embrace quality and safety in tire selection.
