Abstract
“Rubber” is an indispensable material as an element for automobile, because of its original characteristics such as big transformation and restoration, which other materials do not have. There are no doubts that the technologies utilized in components such as tires, bushes, insulators and seals have supported the history of automotive evolution for more than 100 years. Due to the flexible property of “Rubber”, automobiles have gained practicable durability and reliability in components such as bodies, power trains and axles etc. At the same time, automobiles have gained good comfort for passengers. It is also well known that automobiles have highly increased in their vehicle dynamics level, such as driving, handling and braking, by the ever improving road contact ability of the pneumatic tires. Now days, the current issues in automobile development are focused around minimizing the negative aspects such as environmental impact, traffic congestion and traffic accidents and maximizing the positive aspects such as fun, delight, excitement and comfort. “Rubber” must play more important part in such efforts. Expectations for the “Rubber” are discussed from an automotive standpoint, including author's personal ideas.
