How the tires for the new Lamborghini Temerario supercar were created

In August 2024, the Bridgestone corporation announced that as part of its long-standing collaboration with Lamborghini, it had prepared tires for the new hybrid supercar Temerario, which is scheduled to go on sale next year. Three tire models have passed homologation: Bridgestone Potenza Sport, Potenza Race (more focused on track use), and the winter Blizzak LM005. Giulio Niccolini, responsible for the development of Bridgestone's passenger car tires for the original equipment segment, spoke with TTI about how the tires for the car, equipped with three electric motors and a V8 with two turbochargers, were created.

What are the advantages of developing exclusive tires for Temerario? After all, there are serial tires.

As with other similar projects, the development of exclusive tires means that they can be modified to perfectly match the car's characteristics and help the manufacturer achieve its goals. Suppose our client is developing a sports car and wants it to maximize lap time. We, in turn, develop an exclusive tire optimized for increased grip on the track. If the goal is to maximize range, we develop a tire with low rolling resistance.

For such a super-sports car as the Temerarion, specially developed tires are necessarily needed, as only they will correspond to its extreme characteristics, such as high torque and maximum speed, as well as excellent handling.

Virtual development technology (VTD) was used in the creation of the tires. How important is this tool during the development of tires for such cars?

Virtual modeling is an integral part of the tire development process for all Lamborghini cars, and the Temerario, of course, was no exception. VTD and driving simulators were applied from the very beginning of the mold design to the stage of determining the characteristics. Such technologies have huge advantages in terms of reducing development time and improving efficiency. At the same time, costs and environmental impact are reduced. Usually, thanks to VTD, the need to manufacture about 200 physical prototypes is eliminated within one project, the number of tests in the real world is reduced by 80%, and development time is reduced by 50%. In addition, the consumption of raw materials and CO2 emissions can be reduced by 60%.

How do you see the development of this tool in the future in terms of simplifying and optimizing the tire development process?

We are convinced that the virtualization of the entire development process will be the key to increasing our efficiency and significantly reducing the impact on the environment. Already, a large part of the development is carried out in virtual space, and investments are constantly being made in the development of this technology.

Did the fact that you previously collaborated with Lamborghini simplify the process of creating tires for Temerario? Perhaps elements of the design of previous tires were used during the new project?

Our partnership has evolved through numerous joint projects, and we, for example, created tires for the Huracan STO, Huracan Tecnica, Huracan Sterrato, Revuelto, and a special edition for the 10th anniversary of the Huracan. The knowledge gained during the implementation of all these projects played an important role in the creation of tires for the Temerario. Our teams of technical specialists are accustomed to working together as a single whole, as they are united by a common goal - to create a combination of a car and tires that ensures the achievement of the set goals. Our experience and expertise, without a doubt, strengthen our relationship with Lamborghini, as we are their official technological partner and exclusive tire supplier for their innovative models.

How were the tread patterns of the tires designed for Temerario?

The tread patterns of all tires were significantly revised and optimized using both virtual technologies and simulators to maximize improvement in handling on dry and wet roads and optimal performance at high speeds, which the car's characteristics require. For example, the Potenza Sport tread pattern was specially designed to improve performance during sports driving.

Potenza Sport tires are also available to Temerario buyers in the Run-Flat version. How did you manage to avoid deterioration in operational characteristics, which is possible when tires are equipped with a similar design?

Bridgestone has a long history of using Run-Flat technology, and we are constantly improving the balance between the benefits it offers and other parameters, such as tire weight, comfort, and rolling resistance. As part of this project, we applied the fourth-generation Run-Flat technology, which allows us to successfully combine the capabilities of tires in this category with a very high level of comfort, which was required in accordance with the task.

How were the rubber compounds modified?

The composition of all tires was refined to meet clearly defined requirements for grip on both dry and wet surfaces. This was especially important in the case of track tires, whose high grip is ensured by a special compound initially created for use on racing tracks and then adapted for road use.

What is the starting point for developing a rubber compound for a track tire for a car whose engine can rev up to 10,000 rpm?

The compound must withstand the loads associated with high torque and power and guarantee the necessary level of grip. This is especially difficult in the case of hybrid cars with their increased weight. In general, the combination of high weight, high torque, and the need for excellent grip creates a serious challenge during the development of the compound.

Were there any specific difficulties during the development of winter tires for Temerario?

The tread pattern and compound were carefully optimized to make the tires effective when exposed to high torque and power even on surfaces with low friction.

Source: TTI.