We will have TPMS with more features: Daniele Lorenzetti

The newly appointed Chief Technology Officer of Apollo Tyres rolling resistance and evolution of electronics in tyres. Edited excerpts: spoke to on reducing the

Q: Q:

When you say dedicated pillars, will it be on designing a new product with improved raw material?

Lorenzetti: One of the main pillars is the material pillar and what you mention is correct. We are collaborating with many suppliers to develop a new material to be more and more competitive. We are developing a lot of new components and we will be introducing them very soon. These new materials will certainly reduce the rolling resistance. Pattern design and cavity design will also reduce rolling resistance in a big way.

Q:

In order to be eco-friendly, how do you plan to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels?

Lorenzetti: One of the targets to reduce the rolling resistance is to produce lighter tyres. So the rolling resistance value is very important to control the materials in the factory. The rolling resistance journey is not only on R&D, it is a global journey of the factory. The challenges are not only in developing materials, but we have to make sure that the tyres are manufactured with lighter thickness in a consistent way.

Q:

In tyre manufacturing you can have either soft rubber for higher grip or hard rubber for durability. Is there any way to bridge both?

Lorenzetti: Now the technology is evolving and we have a solution by having new materials and so on. Today it is possible to develop high performance tyre with good grip and low rolling resistance values. In the new generation tyres the carbon black is substituted by silica so there is a change in technology about the fillers and the trade of the performance is completely changing. So the evolution in the tyre business is quick and we are able to produce good tyres that have better mileage.

Q:

In tyre industry electronics has started playing a major role. What is Apollo Tyres doing on this?

Lorenzetti: Electronics in tyres is mainly to develop systems to interpret the information from the tyre that are in contact with roads. These information are used to develop better tyres for the next generation tyres to have better performance, safety and control. There are also other electronics in tyres like RFID to give right stability.

Q:

So do you mean to say all these electronic devices will be placed inside the tyres?

Lorenzetti: Many types of systems are available. We are concentrating on the sensors that can be added to the tyres to monitor their performance. There are 2 types of sensors, one is to monitor the temperature and pressure, and in the next generation tyres the sensors will be placed in the internal part of