Goodyear's reCharge Concept Tire Can Generate Tread on the Go
The tyre industry spends billions of dollars every year on research & development. It is the primary reason that manufacturers can roll out new & innovative tires frequently. It is projected that by 2025, the global tire market will reach 4 billion units. The recent financial downturn might hurt the tire market as demand for vehicles is undoubtedly set to decrease.
But the point is that the tire industry is reaching new heights each year. Last year, we got the news that Bridgestone will be developing tires for the Toyota Rover. No, the Rover is not your standard car. Toyota is developing a Rover for the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. The Rover will be used for exploring the lunar surface. In short, the Rover is a space exploration vehicle.
As standard tires cannot work in space for obvious reasons, Bridgestone is tasked with manufacturing tires that can not only support the weight of the Rover but move around as well. This brings us to another news from the tire industry. Goodyear has recently introduced a new tire concept, called the reCharge Tire.
What is the reCharge Tire Concept?
Imagine that you no longer need to replace your tires with new ones. Instead, when the tyres near their end, you can rejuvenate or regrow them. Well, that is precisely what Goodyear’s reCharge tire concept is all about. The idea behind it is that the tread will be biodegradable and reloadable.
When the tread nears its end life, you can inject capsules into it. These capsules will help regrow the tread. Hence, the tire will be good as new. The concept is that the tread will be composed of a liquid compound that can then be replaced through capsules of the same compound.
Spider silk will further strengthen the compound & the overall tire. For those of you who are unaware of spider silk, it is one of the toughest naturally occurring materials on Earth. Moreover, the non-pneumatic frame means the tire is puncture-proof. In short, you no longer need to worry about maintaining the correct tire pressure or punctures.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The tire is not just about a rechargeable / regrow-able tread or being puncture-proof. It also offers various AI features that act as the tyre’s brain. The tire establishes your profile after taking into account your driving habits, weather conditions, and road surface. Once the profile is created, the tire changes itself accordingly to give a better experience. Therefore, the tires will be personalized according to each driver. It will also interact with other vehicular components to improve the ride experience & safety.
Final Thoughts
It is not sure when the tires will go into development. But this futuristic tire design surely confirms that manufacturers are already thinking about the future. Goodyear Europe’s Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer said that,
“Goodyear wants the tire to be an even more powerful contributor to answering consumers’ specific mobility needs." "It was with that ambition that we set out to create a concept tire primed for the future of personalized and convenient electric mobility."