How would you build a tyre that automatically inflates itself? The answer is obvious; put a very small pump inside. That’s what Goodyear proposes to do, but it will take a lot of research and development time to make it practical. In fact Goodyear proposes to go one step further, and use tyre rotation to operate the pump. No self-respecting idea can fly without a name, and so the system is called Air Maintenance Technology (AMT).
To have any value, the final design should be able regulate the pressure in each wheel to close tolerances. This will ensure that the normal slow leak that occurs with the passage of time will be taken care of, but the slightly faster leak that’s often not noticed until the blow-our occurs, should also be a thing of the past. Off course, we’re assuming that the system will be able to warn that the leak is occurring even while it is topping up the tyre.
Keeping all your tyres at the correct pressure will also result in a fuel consumption saving compared to driving with soft tyres. In the USA Government research has shown that underinflated tyres result in a fuel consumption penalty of between 2,5 and 3,3 per cent. On the other hand properly inflated tyres result in lower emissions, longer tyre life, enhanced safety and improved vehicle performance. Another advantage is that it eliminates the time wasted searching for a tyre pump on the forecourt and often finding that it’s not working or has not been calibrated for a long time.
Goodyear is unable to say when such a tyre will become available, but recent government research grants from the United States and the European union will certainly speed up the research process. The work will be conducted at Goodyear’s Innovation Centre in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg.