3D Carbon Structure to Boost Road Tyre Performance
Ostermundigen, Switzerland
Swiss company Ere Research recently unveiled what it called new tyre technology featuring a 3D carbon network structure.
The Ere Genus CCX, launched at the Tire Technology Expo in Hannover on 19th May, was developed in collaboration with Dutch firm CarbonX, a spin-off of the Delft University of Technology.
A statement from the companies says they have been working together for the past two years to create a new material for high-performance road bike tires.
It says CarbonX rubber comprises nano-sized carbon filaments “chemically connected to form a three-dimensional micron-sized network”.
“CarbonX is able to make bicycle racing tires much faster without compromising handling or longevity,” according to the statement.
Ere is claiming a two-watt reduction in rolling resistance by replacing carbon black particles with CarbonX.
Ere is also using zylon instead of kevlar as a bead cord in the tyres. Zylon is frequently used in F1 cars as tethers to keep wheels attached to the chassis during a crash.