The video describes rolling resistance, gravity, aerodynamics, inertia and mechanical friction as the five main forces that a truck and its tyre must overcome in order to move forward and make the tyre roll on a surface.
The tread and the side wall of a tyre are subjected to flexing, bending and shear forces as soon as a rubber tyre bearing the weight of a vehicle begins to move. The tyre continually deforms and recovers its shape as energy is dissipated through heat, which is the main cause of rolling resistance.
To maintain forward momentum, Continental explains that more energy is required in the form of fuel, leading to higher carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, the lower the rolling resistance of the tyres, the less fuel the vehicle will consume.
Elaborating further, the tyre components that contribute to rolling resistance include the design, depth and width of the tread pattern and the tread components. To reduce rolling resistance, the compound needs to deliver low internal friction so that less energy is lost through heat, and fuel consumption falls.
According to Continental, the formula of the compound has such a big impact on rolling resistance that two identical tyres with different rubber compounds will have a different rolling resistance.
Other factors that influence rolling resistance include correct tyre pressures, the vehicles load and the load distribution. Lowering the rolling resistance is a challenge is a challenge because it is hard to improve this side of s tyre’s performance without affecting the handling, grip or mileage. However, these conflicting goals can now be reconciled though research, compounds and improved production processes.