Other Tire Technology

Uni-Directional Pattern is a tread pattern design that maximizes both wet and dry performance, as well as other tire characteristics. By specifying that the tread pattern is to be mounted on the vehicle in a single direction only, the many design compromises found in conventional tires which can be mounted in two directions are eliminated. This provides the ability to include a wider variety of specific performance characteristics such as high resistance to hydroplaning in each tire.

If you can imagine the inefficiency of a rolling egg, you can understand the inefficiency of many tire and rim assemblies which are less than precisely round. Now, O-Bead changes the way the tire interacts with the rim, creating a rounder assembly. The "bead" is a cable inside a tire that helps the tire grip on the rim. On most tires, there are overlapped joints where the ends of the bead meet. O-Bead eliminates the overlapped joints by using a single, continuous strand of cable. This helps eliminate tiny, unwanted gaps between the tire and the rim, and creates a rounder tire assembly, for improved driving on straightaways and handling stability.

This design hasn't always been an exact science. Engineers relied on their experience and various design theories when developing new products. But now, our innovative COCS (Computer Optimized Component System) technology uses a supercomputer to determine the ideal combination of tread design, casing shape, materials, and construction based on consumer benefit criteria. Performing thousands of "what if" calculations and creating incredibly detailed tire simulations, COCS takes the guesswork out of designing tires. COCS makes it possible to create an endless diversity of tire designs to meet the demands of the consumer of today and tomorrow.

A reinforcing material used in conjunction with carbon black.

Zig-Zag Sipes are features on the Blizzak winter tires. This leading-edge tread pattern helps improve performance in icy conditions.

Sipes lengthen to improve new performance on wet surfaces and helps maintain wet performance as the tire wears.

Carbon black is a reinforcing material that strengthens rubber. All tire manufacturers use it. But tires with UNI-T technology use L.L. Carbon, an advanced form of carbon black that offers real advantages. Under a microscope, conventional carbon black particles look like bunches of grapes. L.L. Carbon molecules resemble long chains. Think of these as the equivalent of the long steel rods used to reinforce concrete. Because this molecular structure absorbs and spreads road stresses over a larger area, you get a stronger tire better able to resist cracking, chipping, tearing, and excessive wear.