Falken looks to future of CV tyres
The landscape for commercial vehicle tyres looks to be at the beginning of a period of major change, according to Falken Tyre Europe, driven both by operational pressures and the need to improve fleet environmental credentials.
The company’s senior manager of corporate and product planning, Andreas Giese, believes the product range in the CV market will look very different over the coming years, and attributes several factors to the direction that the design of tyres being manufactured specifically for this sector are being taken in.
A major driving force of change at the moment is the load per axle of vehicles as a whole, Giese believes.
“It is increasing,” he said.
“This is due to a number of reasons. One of them is the limitations imposed on the length and height of vehicle classes, meaning there is a greater load concentrated on the same area size to meet the demand increases.
“Tolls are also being charged per axle in Europe, so we are seeing higher loads per axle as organisations try to maximise the space available and limit the use of vehicles with a high number of axles.”
Falken made moves as early as 2018 to reflect this trend, expanding its portfolio of truck tyres to include high-load versions for the RI151 and the SI011 winter truck tyres. But there is more to the story beyond new regulations and restrictions on vehicle dimensions being laid out by governments.
“Companies are looking to cut costs where possible and navigate the challenges caused by stock shortages in the fallout of the pandemic and other external factors,” Giese continued.
“This has meant that, with businesses searching for new ways to cut costs, retreading and in general, recycling materials for a second or third tyre life has also become more common. It is now seen as an attractive solution. Developing tyres with a strong carcass, that are suitable for retreading, has never been more important as a result.”
Climate change is another driving force behind the decisions being made by tyre manufacturers when producing new commercial vehicle tyres; and Giese believes it is “perhaps the most significant force behind the changes” that tyre brands are having to adapt to.
“The impact of the change to average temperature and a reduction in the amount of snowfall in certain countries means there is now a clear shift from cold weather tyres to all-season tyres in certain areas,” he said.
“At Falken this has boosted the popularity of our Euroall Season Van 11 tyre. This is because, in the light truck and van segment of the market, businesses are seeing an opportunity to replace tyres less frequently as they don’t see the benefit in swapping to cold weather tyres each year.
“For instance, in 2020, there were fewer days of snowfall in Stockholm, Vienna, Bucharest and London compared to 2019, and no snow days at all in Paris, Frankfurt, Rome and Madrid. Instead, there was more rainfall across the board, marking the importance of versatile tyres capable of strong performance in wet and dry conditions.”
He also highlights the impact of companies moving towards transport powered by alternative fuel solutions, with restrictions on the sale of vehicles with traditional combustion engines on the horizon in Europe.
“Companies are opting to switch to electric and fuel cell-powered vehicles,” Giese added.
“These are heavier, putting greater pressure on the tyres. They are causing a change in driving behaviour too, as, under braking, tyres are being put under more strain due to the additional weight from vehicles with a battery.”
