Automotive News - March 3, 2008 - (Page 32f)

32F • MARCH 3, 2008 Europe’s loud debate over quieter tires Does less noise mean less safe? Industry says yes; the EU, no Tony Lewin autonews@crain.com Will labels help? The tire industry thinks it’s impossible for any tire to be outstanding in all performance areas. So it is proposing a labeling system that would grade tires under a variety of headings to help buyers choose the best tire for their needs. Grades will be given for Rolling resistance Wet grip Dry grip Aquaplaning Durability Noise dize safety and environmental issues.” Daimler called the study findings on which the commission based its proposals “in contradiction to the experience of the vehicle and tire industry.” That study, done by the Forum of European National Highway Laboratories, said almost all car tires made noise below current limits. Half were lower, by three decibels or more. The forum found “no significant relationship” between tire noise and safety performance or noise and rolling resistance. Upset by the findings, the tire industry proposed its own limits. “We have offered to lower noise emissions by two decibels across all tire classes,” Collins said. “It’s a considerable chunk — equivalent to removing one complete tire.” Would quieter car tires benefit the public’s health? The European Commission thinks so. The commission wants car tires to be quieter to protect citizens from stress-related illness caused by unhealthy noise levels. Automakers and tire makers oppose the commission’s proposals. They say quieter tires might be less capable of stopping quickly, which would unnecessarily endanger lives. Proponents of quieter tires claim that reducing noise does not make tires less safe. They argue that the current noise levels of tires harm the health of those who hear traffic noise. Growing din Forty percent of Europeans are exposed to noise levels potentially dangerous to their health, says a Brussels-based environmental lobby group, Transport & Environment. In western Europe that’s 170 million people. Most of the noise comes from transportation, particularly road traffic. New vehicles are quieter than old ones, but with growing traffic volume, overall noise levels are rising. Rolling tires are a major source of noise. The European Union enacted tire noise legislation in 2001, but the commission didn’t issue updated noise-level proposals until last October. Some environmental groups welcomed the proposals. Others criticized them as not going far enough. But automakers and tire producers dismissed them as unrealistic. The noise limits “simply cannot be achieved by the tire industry,” said the European Tire and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association. To reduce tire noise, engineers at Continental record the sound a tire makes on different surfaces. Noise level depends on the tires, the road Rolling noise is generated by two things: movement of the tire’s tread block on the road surface and the sound of air being expelled from between the tread blocks as the tire compresses. Racing slicks are the quietest tires because they have no tread whatsoever, says Des Collins, vice president of public relations at Bridgestone. The noise potential rises with more tread grooves, deeper grooves or wider tires. Tire makers use sophisticated computer programs and simulation techniques to predict and reduce noise as well as tune the sound of tires. The texture of the road affects rolling noise more than the tire itself. Experimental surfaces, some using rubber granules from old tires, can cut noise up to 12 decibels, more than the best tires. The European Union rolling noise test uses the same surface as drive-by noise tests. Some critics say that’s unrealistically quiet on this smooth surface and that tires can be noisier on rougher public roads. — Tony Lewin ‘No trade-off’ Research institutes and lobbyists say the forum’s study results prove the industry can and should do more. “The proposed standards are already being fulfilled by a large proportion of tires on the market,” said Transport & Environment group policy officer Nina Renshaw. “Most institutes say there is no trade-off.” The slow EU legislative process means it may take a year or more for the proposals to become a directive. Renshaw expects a ruling in the summer. “If the EU presidency wants to push it and (legislators) want it,” she said, “it could happen by the end of 2008.” c Question of balance Tire makers object to the demand for big cuts in noise and rolling resistance while also maintaining wet-weather grip and durability levels. Each can be achieved individually, says Des Collins, vice president of public relations at Bridgestone. “Neither noise nor low rolling resistance are tricky by themselves,” Collins said. “But developing a tire is a question of balanced performance. There are seven or eight cri- teria that you have to keep in mind all the time.” Burkhard Wies, head of car-tire development for German tire maker Continental, said low rolling resistance and wet grip are two of the toughest conflicting objectives. “Realizing both targets in the scope envisioned by the EU would considerably compromise a tire’s performance in terms of road safety,” he said. Maximizing one performance area can force trade-offs elsewhere, said Collins, “but these trade-offs are different for each tire company.” Responding to the commission, Daimler said that the proposed noise-limit ranges would “jeopar- We move the automotive world! 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Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - March 3, 2008

Bob Nardeli's new big-idea guy New Kia boss reaches out to restless dealers Scion hits a wall Lithia losses raise caution flag Detroit 3 shun talk of NAFTA do-over Lincoln names new marketing manager Mercedes to launch hybrid sedan in '09 Mazda has new top marketing exec M-B will hit the road with 50-state diesels Pontiac puts big ad bucks into traditional media for G8 Reynolds, ADP diverge on growth strategies Ford plans to cut fleet sales 10% in 2008 Mazda: New models, styling will boost its loyalty rate Run-up to axle strike adds to supplier woes Webasto's fast heater will debut by 2010 Russian plant wants to be world's biggest A Lancer is hatched Chrysler throws out purchasing rulebook Honda sets lofty hybrid goal, with Civic's help Honda: Use of ethanol limited, must be biomass Honda CEO Fukui: No recession in U.S., despite soft sales in spots 550 hp? 620 hp? Is GM crazy? Doug Fraser was a great leader How ironic: Lyons learns caution Well done, Doug Don't let Calif. impose fuel rules on the nation Blame the dealer, not the brand Cutting weight doesn't cut safety When Lutz dumps on global warming ... JM exec Czubay: A taste for hogs, pierogi Doug Fraser: A good man to have known Fraser led UAW with 'combination of substance, politics and charm' Autonet finds success at NADA with wi-fi for cars GM to sell medium-truck business, keep dealer network Web classified ad firms renew marketing to dealers, buyers Chery designs venture's vehicles China venture eyes 20,000 Fiesta hatchback sales Toyota plans crossovers in China Dongfeng, YuAn plan minicars BMW shakes up global marketing, sales ranks Delphi divestiture boosts forging supplier Is Blackhawk purchase bucking a trend? Repair company grows as Detroit 3 struggle BorgWarner unit expands German automakers seek more parts sourced in North America Hyundai picks ArvinMeritor Japan parts firm to build Miss. plant Nissan to increase spending on IT Purchase keeps Tenn. plant open Automakers hit with apartheid claims Mexico sales flat in January Ford prices '09 Flex atop crossover line Hamp rejoins Visteon board RV deliveries decline 3.4% in December Subaru lowers Forester price Personnel Bright future for LED headlight suppliers? Valeo's Morin to Pardus: Learn before you leap German automakers aren't worried about U.S. recession Porsche's Wiedeking: We must retool VW Europe's loud debate over quieter tires Noise level depends on the tires, the road Auto industry robotics spending jumps 43% in 2007 Electronic brakes struggle to get traction Big Texas dealer returns to some domestic brands AutoNation chief sees tough '08, better '09 In downturn, Sonic looks beyond new cars GM promotes service, parts leads for dealerships 10 cool dealership technologies found at NADA Dealers Kia will build transmissions at Georgia plant Gibson leaves DealerTrack board Akebono closing Kentucky plant Feds issue Ford fire warning Magna net income drops VW to use Siemens' software A tale of 2 exhaust systems EU wants CO2 in ads; battle looms Maize malaise stalls ethanol Tata to siesta during Ford's Fiesta Honda moves its American bike offshore Honda will recycle cycle plant Tom LaSorda's multimillion-dollar smile

Automotive News - March 3, 2008

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