Two new concepts of tires that use embedded sensors to monitor pressure and temperature and allow for changing a tire’s contact patch on the fly have been developed.
From camera-based rearview mirrors to engines and transmissions that can adapt to the terrain ahead based on GPS and other information, many traditional car parts have gone high-tech. But tires haven’t really changed much since the advent of the automobile. The last radical change to where the rubber meets road was when steel-belted radial tires were introduced almost 70 years ago.
That’s starting to change. Michelin recently introduced its Vision concept tire called the ‘Tweel’. A one-piece wheel-and-tire combo that’s “airless, connected, rechargeable, customizable, and organic.” The rechargeable part means that the tread can be changed to adapt to various road conditions, climates, and driving styles. But Michelin mentioned at the unveiling of the concept in June 2017 that it could be at least 10 years or more before the technology sees the light of day.
Tags: cars • tire techonology • tires