Snow Tires - Essay Sample

Introduction

The first law to be enacted that required snow tires in the world were initiated in Finland in 1978. The first snow tire to be manufactured in the world was called ‘Kelirengas,’ and it was manufactured by Suomen Gummitehdas Osakeyhtio in 1934 [1]. Suomen used to work for the Nokian company. However, during this year, the snow tires were explicitly designed for lorries because the name horse transport was being taken over by motor vehicles. Snow tires kept on developing as the roads were in poor conditions, and hence people had to invent snow tires during the winter period. In 1936, a more enhanced snow tire was manufactured, and it was called Hakkapeliitta, which rendered a significant grip under winter conditions, and it was also used during summer [1]. The snow tires were completely advanced as winter conditions approached.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

In the early 1950s, several other tire manufacturers quickly started manufacturing snow tires of various versions. They, however, followed the trend after the Nokian company introduced the idea. For instance, in 1965, the Goodyear company manufactured a more developed snow tire with a studded model. The studded snow tires became more useful as they helped drivers manage their vehicles in various conditions, whether winter or other seasons. As time moved, snow tires became better and better with improved quality and grip. Funding from various companies such as Toyo Tires enabled more advanced snow tires to the market. In 1972, Michelin Tires introduced a modern snow tire that incorporates several beneficial features compared to the previous tires [1]. The company acquired the latest technology to produce such tires that are still in demand up to date. The tire design includes changeable width recesses in the tread, resulting in greater grip in the snow and ice.

General Description and Advantages of Snow Tires

Driving during winter creates excellent anxiety among drivers, and every winter, the initial snowfall causes many road tragedies. Drivers face several challenges during winter, and some tend to forget what it takes to steer slippery, snow shielded roads carefully. Various driving skills are required to avoid accidents during the winter season. Snow tires offer the solution to driving during winter months and on roads covered by snow or ice. Snow tires are also referred to as winter tires [2]. They are, however, commonly regarded as winter tires because driving in winter poses different challenges that are met by the tires that may or not involve snow. These tires are designed for winter periods where drivers can safely drive at temperatures below seven 0C. Other snow tires have metal and ceramic studs that project from the tire to increase grip on hard-packed snow. Studs erode dry pavement, resulting in dust and generating wear in the wheel path. Policies that require snow tires differ by country in Europe and Asia and by the state in the United States of America [2].

Snow tires offer a wide range of advantages compared to regular tires during the winter season. The snow tires are designed with special features that permit them to perform significantly excellent compared to all-seasoned tires.

Offer extraordinary traction. Different tread forms and shapes permit them to push snow outward, preventing now accumulation. While some drivers claim four-wheel drive or all-wheel is relevant to survive during winter, snow tires are still better in performance and are a cheaper alternative compared to regular tires [2].

Snow tires provide more flexibility. Tremendously cold temperatures cause the tread rubber on all-seasoned tires to stiffen, which reduces their capacity to grasp the road. Snow tires are more flexible hence permitting more grip on winter compared to other regular tires.

Snow tires offer better navigation and braking. The softness and flexibility of snow tires generate a better grip, preventing the tires from sliding over a slippery road.

The tires reduce hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is also called aquaplaning, and it is a threatening driving condition that happens when snow or water causes the car’s tires to lose track with the road surface. This condition is a jolting sign that the driver has lost all the available friction. Snow tires reduce the risks of hydroplaning in a very great way.

Snow tires can be fixed in mid-November and removed in early April. These tires may, however, be available for a short period since many companies do not manufacture them all through the year. Snow tires are durable, and many last for about seven to eight years when properly maintained. A great set of snow tires can cost up to $ 900 and may cost more when incorporated with their rims. Snow tires are required to be removed when the winter season is over because hot temperatures and dry pavements can result in the tires to wear out at a rapid rate. Snow tires need to be stored in a dry and cool place to increase durability. Storing the snow tires in a shed or normal temperatures may wear off because of high humidity and hot conditions.

Physics Behind Snow Tires

Snow tires have greater natural rubber content that provides them a softer design. The interaction between the rubber content of the tire and the road changes as temperature increases. This hence affects the traction of the tire. Snow tires are specially designed compound assures versatility, even below six 0C while regular tires harden during low temperatures [3]. Snow tires perform better on the snow due to the deeper grooves to dig more in the snow and hence increase the grip between the road and the tires. The coefficient of friction of rubber tires on wet snow can be estimated to range from 0.4 to 0.7. Applying various coefficient frictions, one can notice how snow tires perform better by permitting the vehicle to halt at a smaller distance, enabling driving during winter comfortable and safe. Scientists have divided friction into rotational and translational friction [4].

Societal Impact

Snore tires are 100% recyclable; hence they are environmental-friendly. The superb quality of the snow tires easily reintegrates into the manufacturing process, which significantly benefits the environment as fewer resources are used to manufacture these tires. Such recycled products perform better than traditional materials [5]. The global impacts of recycling reduce waste products and promote the cleanliness of the environment. Snow tires have also reduced the use of highly aromatic oils in manufacturing the tires, reducing pollution.

Snow tires have saved enabled drivers to save a lot since the tires are relatively cheaper compares to regular tires. Furthermore, these tires have helped reduce maintenance costs caused by the damage of regular tires that are effective during the winter seasons [6].

Conclusion

The future goal of snow tires is producing more effective tires that would offer more traction, flexibility, braking, steering and less costly. This can be achieved by using softer materials and conducting more research on manufacturing more tires while minimizing the manufacturing time.

References

[1]Y. Nakajima, "Application of computational mechanics to tire design—yesterday, today, and tomorrow." Tire Science and Technology, 2011

[2]H. Lee, Jonah "Calibration and validation of a tire–snow interaction model." Journal of Terramechanics, 2013

[3]O. Hjort, Mattias, Eriksson, and Fredrik Bruzelius. "Comprehensive study of the performance of winter tires on ice, snow, and asphalt roads: the influence of tire type and wear." Tire Science And Technology, 2017

[4]E., T. Kamegawa, and Y. Nakajima. "Prediction of snow/tire interaction using explicit FEM and FVM." Tire Science and Technology, 2003

[5]U. Sandberg, et al. "Road surface influence on tire/road rolling resistance." Swedish Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), Linköping, Sweden, accessed Sept 2018.

[6]V. Hrefna Run, et al. "A review of environmental impacts of winter road maintenance." Cold Regions Science and Technology, 2019.