Drivers’ greatest fear is of being caught in a sudden downpour and not being sure of how their car will react. Starting from this observation, the result of a study, Bridgestone engineers developed the new Turanza 6 tyre.
Compared to the previous generation, which also already guaranteed an excellent safety standard, it has been totally redesigned using a new compound, studying new tread patterns and renewing the profiles. But that’s not all, because the new Turanza 6s are also EV ready: ready for electric or electrified cars.
The issue of safety with a summer tire and especially in the wet was therefore at the center of the entire development of this new product designed and developed in the Bridgestone R&D center in Aprilia, just outside Rome. A bet that won, according to the tests conducted by the independent body TÜV SÜD presented: Bridgestone Turanza 6 currently surpasses its competitors in the segment thanks to its performance in the wet, where it guarantees the best cornering maneuvers, high straight line performance and also reaches the best level of wet grip, certified with European labeling in class “A”, the highest in the category in the whole range.
Great attention is also paid to efficiency and sustainability: on Turanza 6 the Enliten and Techsyn technologies make their debut – on a product dedicated to the aftermarket – which guarantee better mileage and greater fuel efficiency. Characteristics that also ‘graduate’ him for electric mobility.
“The combination of these two technologies – explains Lorenzo Piccinotti, Bridgestone’s EMEA marketing manager – has made it possible to push safety levels to unprecedented levels.
First of all, the compound, made up of polymers which change in the presence of water, allowing for enhanced grip. And then the design: the central block is characterized by wavy grooves, to eliminate the vortices that cause aquaplaning, i.e. the loss of grip between the rubber and the asphalt due to the thin and insidious film of water that is produced as it passes, especially at high speed. Furthermore, the central blocks are slightly convex: an imperceptible difference to the naked eye, but which creates a ripple in the fluids, which thus disperse outwards. Finally, the bundles of side grooves with an opposing design to allow for a quicker and faster release of water. After theory comes practice: on the circuits of the European Union Proving Ground in Bridgestone di Aprilia, halfway between Rome and Latina, we had the opportunity to test Turanza 6 for a day in even extreme conditions, far from everyday life. But always possible. Like emergency braking at high speed in the wet, for example, which is tackled in absolute safety and without the car breaking down. Or like accelerating on a surface flooded with water, or – always in extreme conditions – the sudden change of lane.
On the oval of the facility, the Bridgestone riders put the new tire to the test in truly extreme conditions that are difficult to reproduce by a non-professional, and it proved to live up to expectations. Produced in European plants, including the one located in Bari, Turanza 6 will be available in a wide range of sizes from 16″ (available from 2024) to 22″ for passenger cars and SUVs, both with internal combustion engine whether hybrid or electric.
Source: Ansa
I am an author at Global happenings and I mostly cover automobile news. In my time working in the automotive industry, I have developed a keen interest in the latest developments and trends. My writing skills have also allowed me to share my knowledge with others through articles and blog posts.
