Abstract:
Inflation pressure is a critical property for optimum tire and vehicle performance.  Tire inflation pressure affects its tread wear and rolling resistance.  Maintaining the proper tire pressure as specified by the vehicle manufacturer ensures that it performs as designed in order to provide the driver with adequate traction and steering control, tire durability, and optimum vehicle fuel economy. 
A method was previously developed to calculate the additional fuel used and corresponding increase in CO2 emissions generated when switching from the original equipment (OE) tires on passenger cars and SUV/light trucks to replacement tires, due to the changes in the rolling resistance coefficient (RRC) values from OE to aftermarket tires.  Since pneumatic tires continuously lose air, measured inflation pressure loss rates (IPLR) were used to also calculate the additional fuel used by vehicles in selected countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia when tires lose pressure. 
A study of commercial tires purchased in the U.S. and China has been completed by measuring the IPLR and RRC values for 22 radial truck / bus tires manufactured by 15 different companies.  Savings in fuel can be obtained if the rate of pressure loss is slowed, even when re-inflating the tire each month.  Data from the number of commercial vehicles in China in 2010 were used to show potential savings.  With the considerable expected growth in the number of these commercial vehicles in the next 10 - 20 years, potential savings in fuel consumed and CO2 emissions not generated can become very significant.
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 Biography: 

(1)Education:

•B.S. Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago.

•Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Houston.

•Research Associate in Chemistry, Columbia University.

(2)Professional Experience:

•Associate Professor, Chemistry, Carnegie-Mellon University.

•Section Head, Research, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

•Senior Scientist, Silica Technology, PPG Industries.

•Senior Research Associate, Polymers Technology, ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

(3)Major Awards:

•National Institutes of Health Research Fellow.

•Sparks-Thomas Award, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society.

•Distinguished Corporate Inventor, PPG Industries.

•Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award, Rubber Division, ACS.

•Distinguished Service Award and Outstanding Service Award, Rubber Division, ACS.

•Award of Appreciation, ASTM International Committee F09 on Tires.

•Global Technology Award and Butyl Polymers Awards, ExxonMobil Chemical.

(4)Accomplishments:

•Inventor of 37 patents and 5 trade secrets granted.

•Author of 148 publications and book chapters.

•Presenter of 144 seminars at universities, scientific meetings, government agencies.

•Member of Rubber Division, American Chemical Society (Division Chair in 2011), ASTM F09 Committee on Tires, and Society of Automotive Engineering.