Global Tire Survey 2014: Regional Trends for Innerliner and Tread Technologies

An overview of a recent tire survey conducted within the Tire and Specialty Rubber (TSR) business unit of LANXESS will be presented. The newly formed TSR is a global supplier of high quality synthetic rubber used in all areas of tire production, including polybutadiene (BR), copolymers of styrene and butadiene (SBR) and regular or halogenated butyl elastomers (IIR / HIIR). Various imaging and analytical techniques were utilized in order to assess the tire construction and composition with particular focus on the innerliner and tread areas of both passenger car (PCR) and commercial truck and bus tires (TBR). A wide range of tires were included in the survey, sourced globally from all regions. A number of parameters are reviewed highlighting regional differences as they relate to the expected overall tire performance.