Johannesburg - Imagine a tyre that can change its shape to suit differing road conditions. Goodyear’s done just that with a clever concept tyre called the Triple Tube which is on display at this week’s Geneva motor show.
Developed by Goodyear’s Innovation Centre in Luxembourg, the tyre can inflate and deflate based on road conditions to deliver improved performance and versatility for drivers. The tyre firm believes this technology could be linked to autonomous (self-driving) cars in the future by allowing the tyre to “prepare” the shape it needs before it enters a curve.
The tyre relies on an internal pump that moves air from the main air chamber to three individual air chambers, automatically adjusting to three different positions based on road conditions:
The Eco/Safety Position offers reduced rolling resistance through optimised stiffness distribution, and also provides dry braking through a wide footprint in contact with the road;
The Sporty Position delivers maximum dry-handling capability through optimised contact patch using active conical shape;
The Wet Safety Position provides high aquaplaning resistance through a raised tread in the centre of the tyre, leading to a bigger tyre diameter resulting in a longer, narrower footprint.
The multiple air chambers also provide extended mobility, as one punctured chamber would still allow the driver to continue their journey.
TRANSFORMING HEAT AND MOTION INTO ELECTRICITY
In another rush of tyre-tech inspiration, Goodyear is also showcasing at Geneva a tyre that is able to produce electricity.
Called by its development code “BH03”, the tyre can transform generated deformation and vibrations into electrical energy that can charge the batteries of a hybrid or electric car.
The tyre generates electricity via the action of two types of material: thermoelectric material transforms the heat (generated inside the tyre by the ultra-black texture in static condition by light/heat absorption or by its rolling when dynamic) into electric energy; while piezoelectric material transforms the pressure from structure deformation and vibrations into electric energy.
These new materials form a robust inner-tyre structure that has the added benefit of being able to support the load of a car if the tyre gets punctured - an alternative to run-flat tyres.
Both the shape-shifting and electricity-generating tyres are concepts and won’t be produced by Goodyear. Such concepts, the company says, are designed to stir debate, discuss possible solutions and stimulate engineers to think out of the box. - Star Motoring
Follow me on Twitter @DenisDroppa