Spoilers on the back of cars aren't anything new.
However, spoilers on tires are cutting-edge technology if you ask Yokohama. The Japanese tire manufacturer has fastened small, subtle spoilers onto its tires' outer walls, alleging the aerodynamic advance will increase fuel efficiency. Yokohama will roll out its concept tire at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show next week on Oct. 28.
Yokohama added spoilers onto tires by installing the thin fins at distinct angles on their tires' outer sidewalls. According to CNET, the spoilers work in two ways — fighting aerodynamic drag, allowing tires to work with more fuel efficiency, and lowering aerodynamic lift, positively affecting traction.
The tire manufacturer thought of the idea after gathering data from the Tohoku University's Institute of Fluid Science and learning the effects of tiny fins attached to the sidewalls of tires. Yokohama says the study used a Supercomputer "K" to run aerodynamic simulations at different parameter values. From the simulations, they devised the idea to add spoilers to their tires.
Overall, this development seeks to control aerodynamic flow throughout the vehicle's body by using the spoilers.
If this concept hits the market, it will be interesting to see if the average driver invests in these tires and overall technology they boast or whether the advance will be relegated to car enthusiasts, ready to do anything to improve their vehicle's performance.
Whether you fall in the former or latter category, anything designed to promote fuel efficiency can be deemed a positive.
