Sumitomo Develops “Tire Aerodynamic Simulation” for EV Tires

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. is pleased to announce the development of a new simulation technique called “Tire Aerodynamic Simulation,” which is used in the process of tire development. In order to reduce the fuel (electricity) consumption of electric vehicles (EVs), it is very important to minimize tire rolling resistance as well as air resistance around the tire. We will pursue the development of a tire shape that optimizes aerodynamic performance by visualizing the airflow around the tire of a running vehicle through our own simulation using AI, and thereby aim to develop a tire that further contributes to lowering the electricity consumption of an EV in a next-generation EV tire to be launched in 2027.

As performance required of an EV tire, one important element is to achieve low electricity consumption in order to maximize the range . In addition to various measures we have already taken to reduce tire rolling resistance, we will focus on decreasing air resistance, which is important to lower the electricity consumption of an EV tire. Our recently developed simulation technology, “Tire Aerodynamic Simulation,” will help us to accomplish this goal.

With a rapid shift to EVs occurring today, the impact of air resistance is becoming increasingly important. Unlike internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which lose over 50% of their energy due to heat, EVs suffer much less energy loss from heat. This means that air resistance accounts for a larger portion of total energy loss in EVs. The tires are exposed to the outside of the vehicle body, and the air that passes around the tires flows out to the underside and side of the vehicle; as a result, 20% to 25% of the energy loss due to air resistance in a passenger car is related to the tires. In EVs, which cause almost no energy loss due to heat, around 34% to 37% of the energy loss is attributed to the tires, if rolling resistance is included. …

Source: Sumitomo