Let’s face it – it isn’t fair to expect OEMs to bolt performance rubber to a four lakh-rupee hot hatch, an eight lakh-rupee mid-sizer and in some cases, even a 20 lakh-rupee SUV. In India, where fuel economy outweighs every other concern including safety, under-tyred cars are the norm, not the exception. The average consumer demands high tyre life as well, so the compound is made harder which means it wears slowly with low grip as a by-product. On the road, in an emergency – that can be the difference between a close shave and a fatal accident.
Year after year, a lot of Indian motorists pay the ultimate price for this unawareness due to their myopic focus of achieving 0.5 kpl better fuel efficiency, long tyre life and low cost when the time comes to replace. Better cornering grip or extra braking performance that would come in handy in critical situations does not feature on this list.
However, with advancements in rubber technology, it is now possible to have the best of both worlds. Rolling resistance has become a buzzword with tyre manufacturers across the globe – including Bridgestone. Five years ago, the Japanese tyre manufacturer had launched their ‘Ecopia’ range of tyres for the fuel-efficiency crazed Asia-Pacific region – where most customers want to stretch a litre of fuel to the farthest distance possible. Since then it has sold over one crore units and has now decided to launch these in the Indian market as well, in the aftermarket to begin with.
