Hiroshi Yamada, manager of Bridgestone‘s Motorcycle Sport department, is sure to be a very busy man in 2007. Supplying the rubber for Ducati Marlboro, Gresini Honda, Kawasaki Racing, Pramac dAntin and Rizla Suzuki means that he has five teams and four different manufacturers to work with during a season in which Bridgestone have to make their own, specific adaptations to historic shift from 990cc bikes to the new, smaller SOOcc prototypes. With this comes the added responsibility of adapting to particular individual demands, although Yamada is confident of finding a solution for everyone.
“Generally, our plan has been focused on getting the direction of tyre construction correct, but now we will be starting to adapt the tyre to meet the requirements of each of our teams. Some riders still require additional support to have tyres that work with their riding style. We can only offer reassurances at this early stage that we will do everything to fulfil our teams‘ and riders‘ requests,“ he commented after last week‘s Official Test in Qatar.

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Motorcycle Tires Under Extreme Load: A Look at the Physics of Grip

This text dives into the extreme stresses placed on motorcycle tires at high speeds, highlighting the impressive performance of these seemingly simple components.

Forces at Play:

• < 200 HP: The engine's immense power needs to be transferred to the road through the tire, posing a huge challenge for grip.
• < 270 km/h (168 mph): At this speed, the tire rotates 1.5 times per second and travels 4.5 km (2.8 miles) further than the front tire due to "spin" caused by slippage.
• Torque: The engine's gearing amplifies torque at the rear wheel, resulting in strong pulling force.
• 1450 Newtons: This immense force pushes the motorcycle and rider through the wind, with the tire providing the frictional force necessary for forward movement.
• 150 kg (330 lbs) Wheel Load: The motorcycle's weight rests on the tire, further increasing friction and wear.
• 4.5% Slip: At high speeds, some slippage is unavoidable, leading to heat generation and wear.
• 100 Degrees Celsius Rubber Temperature: Frictional heat can significantly raise the rubber temperature, affecting its properties and grip.
• 270 Newtons Centrifugal Force: The centrifugal force on each individual belt thread within the tire is enormous and can lead to structural damage.