Explosion-proof tires, also known as air-deficient tires, are often equipped on some high-end models, at present, among the three luxury brands of German cars, only BMW is equipped with explosion-proof tires as standard, some models of Mercedes-Benz use explosion-proof tires, and the entire Audi series is basically not equipped with explosion-proof tires, so what is only BMW actively promoting "explosion-proof tires"?
Characteristics of burst-proof tires
According to statistics, 70% of the accidental traffic accidents on domestic highways are caused by punctures, and the mortality rate of punctures at speeds above 160 kilometers per hour is close to 100%. Car punctures are a major killer of traffic accidents, and puncture-proof tires can effectively avoid such problems. The scientific name of explosion-proof tires is "deflated tires", and the English abbreviation is RSC. Due to the support provided by the thicker and harder sidewalls, this tire can not make the vehicle lose control in an instant in the case of deflation, and the vehicle can still travel at a speed of 80 km / h for 250 km, which can save lives at critical moments.
Although explosion-proof tires can make driving safer, there are some disadvantages. The first is that the cost is too high, and the price of a burst-proof tire is generally more than 1,000 yuan. Secondly, the hard wall of the explosion-proof tire affects the comfort; it will also affect the sound insulation of the vehicle.
Why is only the entire BMW series equipped with explosion-proof tires as standard?
For ordinary brand models, because the price of the explosion-proof tire is too high, it will undoubtedly increase the manufacturing cost of the vehicle, and more importantly, the consumer's attention to the explosion-proof tire is not high, even if the standard explosion-proof tire can not bring the corresponding sales conversion, it is undoubtedly thankless for the car company, so the car company adopts the way of equipping the spare tire as a substitute.
So why do luxury brand models, although they have a certain brand premium, are not willing to be equipped with explosion-proof tires? There are three main reasons:
1. The model positioning is different
Taking BBA as an example, BMW's positioning is handling and movement, and the explosion-proof tire can not only ensure the safety under the fierce driving, the thicker sidewall can also improve the cornering limit, and equipped with the explosion-proof tire can save the spare tire, which can more easily achieve the weight of 50:50 before and after, so the use of explosion-proof tires is very necessary. And Mercedes-Benz positioning luxury and comfort, although some models are also using explosion-proof tires, after the suspension of the tuning can also take into account the comfort, but after all, does not meet the positioning of Mercedes-Benz; as for Audi, it is the main sense of technology, comfort, so there is no need to use explosion-proof tires.
2, the cost is higher
Many people think that the cost of equipping a rupture-proof tire is only the difference between upgrading from a normal tire to a burst-proof tire, but the truth is far more than that. The first is the design of the wheel hub, some explosion-proof tires need specially designed wheels to achieve explosion-proof effects. Then there is the optimization of NVH, car companies need to spend costs and energy to optimize NVH after equipping with explosion-proof tires to ensure certain comfort.
3. Platform issues
To know that many models of Audi and Volkswagen are produced on the same platform, if the replacement of the explosion-proof tire means that the whole body is involved, the cost is too high for Audi.
For the average consumer, although the explosion-proof tire is safer, it will also bring negative effects such as rising costs, reduced comfort and sound insulation. As long as we pay attention to maintaining the right tire pressure when we are driving every day, changing the tire regularly, and paying attention to tire wear, ordinary tires are actually enough to meet the use.