Metzler Sportec and General Tyre Questions
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 13:21
OK so when I saw the header on the site about the lean indicators on the new M5 Sportec I immediately thought about the bragging rights thing and sure enough Kevin also mentioned it in his report. It is a bit of a novelty for sure and whilst a lot of fun, I do wonder how long it is going to be before someone comes off trying to scrub the outer indicator and blames the manufacturer for encouraging them to go beyond their limits. It was the voices in my head that me do it, your honour!!!
The technology on the steel bands and the varying tensions was very interesting as to how it effects wear rates. The use of differing compounds for this same reason is nothing new but I have a question for Kevin. Is there a definite boundary where the two compounds meet or do they gradually merge into each other? If it is a set boundary and they are like two layers, does this interface represent any kind of mechanical weaker spot? I am sure it does not make it unsafe but is this the point where the mechanical composition is at its lowest integrity?
Mon, 29/03/2010 - 23:33
#2
Kev,
did you get an answer out of the
Kev,
did you get an answer out of the bridgestone man ?
Fri, 09/04/2010 - 08:24
#3
Re: Metzler Sportec and General Tyre Questions
Kev,
did you get an answer out of the bridgestone man ?
Just playing with the new quoting system - cool, it works!
Yes, I did, I just forgot to post it, sorry! The two different compounds are liquids in the mold when they first meet so there's localised mixing at the boundary. They're also basically the same liquid, just with differing amounts of additives such as silica, so there's no resistance to them mixing like there would be with oil and water or other completely different liquids. They're very viscous so the mixing only occurs over a small distance into each of the two, but this means that physically the join between them is indistinguishable and there's no weakness.
I'm on a Bridgestone launch right now, I'll speak to the tech man here. But I've never heard of tyres failing at the boundary between compounds or seen any sign of it. But I'll see what he says...