Safety in winter thanks to innovative sipe technology

(Hannover / Telfs, September 2001) This autumn Semperit will be introducing the new Sport-Grip winter tyre for more powerful medium range vehicles and above. The innovative AddTraction sipe technology used on the tyre, combined with a co-ordinated tread pattern structure, means the Sport-Grip was designed to handle even the most difficult winter driving conditions. Thanks to the latest silica technology in the tread, the tyre also offers good characteristics in the wet and balanced handling at speeds of up to 210 km/h (131 mph).

Accidents tend to happen in the winter - this is the brief summary of the results of a study carried out back in 1995 by the research institute IFAPLAN. The typical winter road problems involving snow, ice and cold are further aggravated by wet conditions. These are precisely the circumstances under which a tyre shows its mettle. The optimum balance of sipes, tread pattern structure and compound on the Semperit Sport-Grip mean the tyre is able to offer the driver greater safety whatever the situation.

AddTraction - Semperit's new sipe technology

Modern winter tyres have numerous small cuts - referred to as sipes - in the tread lugs to enable them to grip in snow and ice. During acceleration, cornering and braking, the tread lugs flex and the sipes interlock with the ground, thereby creating additional gripping edges.

This principle has been further developed by Semperit to improve the winter characteristics of the tyre, providing increased safety for the motorist.

The new AddTraction groove consists of three sets of straight sipe sections, each arranged in parallel, explains Franz Diensthuber, who developed Semperit's new dedicated winter tyre. These sections are laid out to form a Z-shape, thereby doubling the effective length of the gripping edges in the stiff tread centre and substantially increasing traction. The angled positioning of the grooves on the tread lug provides enhanced lateral guidance, which means greater safety in bends.

The directionally-orientated tread pattern on the new Semperit Sport-Grip is designed to ensure optimum traction and lateral guidance, thanks to the extremely angled positioning of the tread lugs which increases the length of the  gripping edges. Powerful sipes in the tyre shoulder make it easier to drive out of deeper, loose snow and are therefore useful when parking in the snow.

Silica technology using new polymer system

An innovative polymer system containing specially adapted softeners was used in the tread compound of the Semperit Sport-Grip. This process meant the classic conflict of objectives between winter and wet weather characteristics could be reduced, comments Franz Diensthuber. Grip in the wet has been enhanced, whilst at the same time steps were taken to protect the tyre from hardening even at low temperatures.

One of the best in handling too

The specially adapted tread pattern structure on the Semperit Sport-Grip disproves the theory that handling always suffers on winter tyres. The central lugs on the tread pattern act as ribs and provide high steering precision, whilst at the same time helping to shorten braking distances on wet and dry roads. The compact shoulder lugs on the Semperit Sport-Grip improve stability in bends and provide increased safety during fast steering manoeuvres.

A wide, sweeping S-shaped central groove ensures high aquaplaning protection, whilst wedge-shaped widening lateral grooves channel the water swiftly out of the tyre's ground contact patch.

In summary, this makes the Semperit Sport-Grip a good choice for all those motorists who want to drive safely through the winter, without foregoing their customary fun at the wheel. 

Click here for the Sport-Grip size range