Simulation-driven tyre design offers 3% fuel economy gain

Using simulation tools from an early phase of vehicle design can reduce time to market and eliminate the need for costly prototyping. As a result, companies that specialise in providing the software for automotive applications believe that simulation will play an increasingly important role in vehicle design as OEMs look for competitive advantages across every aspect of development.

Simulation could also play a growing role in tyre design. Exa, a developer and distributor of computer-aided engineering (CAE) software, recently worked with Yokohama on a series of new aerodynamic tyres that make a small but significant contribution to overall vehicle efficiency of up to 3%. These tyres include fins on the sidewall to streamline airflow when the vehicle is in motion.