Little Helpers For Car Tyres

In many respects, modern cars are computers riding on tyres

. Much of what happens below decks may seem to be under the driver's control but in fact, computerised assistance is ever-present and sometimes, the computers take over. Here, we can take a look at some computer-controlled elements that specifically relate to the work of car tyres. We'll find ourselves knee deep in acronyms but don't worry, each will be explained.

Lets start with ABS. Which is? The Anti-lock Braking System. ABS first appeared in 1929, when Gabriel Voisin, a French aircraft and car engineer, developed a working system for aeroplanes. In the production car world, Chrysler later teamed up with Bendix to produce 'Sure Brake'. This, a fully computerised all-wheel ABS system was available on the 1971 Imperial. Not to be outdone, General Motors stopped car tyres skidding with 'Trackmaster', a rear-wheel only system that first appeared on their 1971 models.

So how does ABS help car tyres? A typical system has a central electronic control unit (ECU), a speed sensor at each wheel, and hydraulic valves within the braking system. Under hard braking, a car wheel that is rotating significantly slower than its counterparts is on the point of locking. The ECU detects this and commands the appropriate hydraulic valve to reduce the braking force at that wheel. As the wheel speeds up again, the ECU reimposes full braking force - this can happen up to 20 times per second.

What does this mean in practice? When the ABS keeps the car tyres at the point of locking but doesn't let them lock, the car is being braked to the limit of the tyres' adhesion. This represents maximum braking efficiency. Moreover, skidding car tyres have actually lost their grip. The driver may be applying maximum braking force and locking the wheels but braking and steering control are lost. Under the influence of ABS, it becomes possible to still steer the car around an obstacle.

Now for another acronym, which describes a system that has evolved from ABS. Electronic Stability Control, or ESC, adds two further sensors to the ABS armoury. The first, a gyroscopic sensor, can detect when the car's direction of travel doesn't accord with the position of the second, the steering wheel angle sensor. The ESC's software can then apply braking force to up to three of the wheels individually. Consequently, the car tyres' grip is used to assist in making the car travel in the direction the driver has chosen. CBC, or Cornering Brake Control, is a refinement in ESC. This system can control the ABS, telling it that the wheels on the inside of the curve being taken should be braked harder than the those on the outside. It also dictates how much additional braking force is applied.

Paradoxically, an ABS-related system can help car tyres to retain grip under acceleration. A Traction Control System, a.k.a. A TCS, detects a driven wheel that's spinning and briefly applies braking force to allow the spinning car tyre, or tyres, to regain traction. More sophisticated TCS systems can control the throttle level simultaneously, cutting power to the spinning wheels.

As you can see, these electronic aids to safety are complicated. Different manufacturer's calling them by alternative names further complicates the issue. For example, some call their TCS an ASR, an Anti Slip Regulator. The above is a very simplistic explanation of such systems and there are other, similar systems in use. The bottom line is that they all help a car's tyres make maximum use of the grip they offer.

by: Louise Slee

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