Bridgestone collaborated with Volkswagen to bring its groundbreaking lightweight tire technology to the car manufacturer’s new all-electric ID.3 vehicle.

The environmentally friendly ENLITEN Technology, which enables tires to have a super low rolling resistance while requiring less materials to be created, is being applied by Bridgestone for the first time on Turanza Eco tires specially engineered for the ID.3.

An eco-friendly vehicle with eco-friendly tire technology

Created to bring the benefits of e-mobility to more everyday drivers, the long-awaited ID.3 is Volkswagen’s first all-electric vehicle launched in  the market.

During the ID.3’s development, Volkswagen sought a tire fitment that offered a high level of performance in both the wet and dry, good braking, long tire life, and, most importantly, super low rolling resistance.

That’s because rolling resistance can have a huge impact on fuel use and, in this case, the ID.3’s battery power operating range.

Bridgestone responded to all these requirements with a custom developed Turanza tire with ENLITEN Technology.

Bridgestone’s new innovative lightweight tire technology sets a new lowered standard in material use and rolling resistance to deliver significant environmental benefits – perfect for a vehicle created with sustainability front of mind.

ENLITEN Technology tires demonstrate a rolling resistance that is up to 30 percent lower than a standard premium summer tire.1.

This contributes, in a combustion engine vehicle, to a reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and significantly extends battery life in an electric vehicle – ensuring that ID.3 drivers can enjoy the vehicle’s maximum range.

In addition, tires with ENLITEN Technology enable further fuel/battery conservation by being reduced in weight by up to 20 percent from equivalent standard premium summer tires.1.

This equates to up to 2kg fewer raw material resources required to produce every tire, another environmental benefit from both a resources and final end-of-life stage management standpoint.

On top of that are ENLITEN Technology’s performance benefits. The synergy between the unique materials used to create ENLITEN Technology and a new mixing process has enhanced the technology’s compound wear performance, without compromising on grip.

This, combined with a cavity and full 3D pattern design that maximises wet and wear performance, means that ENLITEN Technology improves the vehicle’s handling to help increase driving pleasure and, in the case of the ID.3, meet all of Volkswagen’s performance targets.

A project benefitting from a long history of collaboration

The great history of success between long-time partners Bridgestone and Volkswagen – including breaking the electric-powered vehicle lap record on the Nürburgring’s track last year – paid dividends as the tires were quickly developed to address all of Volkswagen’s requirements.

The early stages of development saw Bridgestone apply its groundbreaking, ‘Virtual Tire Development’ technology to digitally identify the ID.3’s optimum tire dimensions.

As well as quickening the tire development phase, Virtual Tire Development also brings significant environmental benefits by ensuring that the tires don’t need to be physically produced and driven during development and testing.

The Turanza Eco tires with ENLITEN Technology are available on Volkswagen’s ID.3 in 18, 19, and 20-inch variants.

The 19 and 20-inch tires are equipped with Bridgestone’s B-Seal technology, which ensures temporary air retention in case of a puncture in the tread area, allowing the vehicle to keep going.

VW’s biggest launch

Commenting was Karsten Schebsdat, Head of Chassis Development, Volkswagen: “The ID.3 is our biggest launch since the Golf. We knew that the tires had to be perfect if drivers were going to realise all of the vehicle’s performance and environmental benefits.

So we selected Bridgestone and its ENLITEN Technology for the ID.3. The significant reduction of rolling resistance allowed by ENLITEN Technology has a huge impact on the ID.3’s battery conservation, which is very important, especially with there being many questions around electric vehicle range today.

ENLITEN Technology can go a long way in helping to change perceptions on the viability of e-mobility. It’s a ground-breaking technology for sure.”

The recent projects in the all-electric ID family have proved what e-mobility is capable of; in the ID.3 we truly have an electric vehicle that’s designed for everyone.

— Mark Tejedor, VP Original Equipment, Bridgestone EMIA

“We are very proud at Bridgestone to have helped bring the performance and environmental benefits of ENLITEN Technology to the roads for the first time on Volkswagen’s new all-electric ID.3 vehicle.

As a business, we’re committed to providing customisable solutions to Original Equipment Manufacturers, who are our key partners in contributing to the future of mobility, and working with them to create new value for society.

The work that we’re doing alongside Volkswagen in this space is exactly that,” added Tejedor.