Falken unveils its first UUHP tyre for road and track
Falken Tyre Europe recently unveiled the Azenis RS820, its first ultra-ultra-high-performance (UUHP) tyre designed to be used on both road and track.
Initially available in 38 sizes spanning 19 to 21 inches, with cross-sections from 30 to 45, and a Y speed index – of up to 300 km/h – the Azenis RS820 is said by Falken to derive from its race-winning motorsport technologies and experience honed from over 20 years of competing on the Nürburgring in Germany.
Designed to suit a range of high-performance cars and SUVs, Falken Tyre Europe says its engineers focused on developing a tyre that would offer “maximum driving pleasure, safety, and longer life”, as well as “responsive handling, balanced wet and dry grip and impressive feel” on both road and track.
Falken’s product development team called upon the expertise and materials knowledge of its engineers in Europe, as well as the technological capabilities of parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. in Japan, to produce its new generation and first UUHP pattern for the region.
Engineered to offer what Falken describes as “ultra-precise handling, stability, and control at all speeds and in a variety of conditions, as well as a quiet and smooth ride”, the Azenis RS820 features an asymmetric tread pattern with four circumferential tread grooves. An improved shoulder design offers increased contact with the road and solid lateral stability on dry roads.
Just like its race car pattern, the new Azenis RS820 incorporates Aramid motorsport technology – used in the hybrid-configured reinforcements. An optimised belt ply provides even pressure distribution, allowing for a dynamic driving experience with heightened safety – particularly at the limit, according to Falken.
The tread compound itself comprises a variety of chemical compounds to ensure ruggedness in tread blocks, while a combination of interlocking microstructures and flexibility provides robust driving properties in a broad range of a road surfaces and conditions.
The circumferential tread ribs of the Azenis RS820 not only provide improved lateral grip while cornering, but also ensure a stable straight-line stability. Wide, deep grooves also ensure particularly good water drainage and minimise the risk of aquaplaning.
With weight also an important factor when it comes to high-performance vehicles, Falken states that its engineers explored all weight-saving possibilities – both in construction and compound – to make the Azenis RS820 lighter than its comparable internal reference product.
Falken also claims that its proprietary advanced 4D Nano design technology ensures lower wear rates and a longer lifespan of the tyre. The label values for the Azenis RS820 – which have not yet been fully defined – are provisionally classified as A (performance in wet conditions), B (noise) and C (fuel consumption).