When you picture a tire, you are probably far from imagining an ultra-smart technological device that, for example, adapts to the weather or produces oxygen through photosynthesis. However, over the past few years, these features and many more have been tested out on prototypes and unveiled to the general public by manufacturers. What may have seemed like science fiction only a decade ago may well be the future of the tire! Increasingly, technical innovation is taking place not only in the construction of the tire but in its utility itself. Here are a few examples of these colourful automotive technologies!
Goodyear BH03
One of the criticisms we often hear about electric cars is their lack of autonomy. Imagine if it were possible for your tires to generate electricity and, in this way, gradually recharge the battery. That’s what Goodyear glimmered in 2015 when it unveiled its BH03 prototype at the Geneva Motor Show. The tire generates energy in two ways: it converts the static electricity accumulated by friction and the heat of light, which is particularly well absorbed by its material. This is a concept that I wouldn’t be surprised to see on the market in the next decade!
Continental ContiAdapt
In Quebec, this concept presented at the Frankfurt trade show in 2017 could be handy. The ContiAdapt system, developed by Continental, is an intelligent device that adjusts pressure at specific points on the tire to ensure optimal traction in all weather conditions. Maximum pressure, for example, can reduce rolling resistance on dry roads by minimizing the contact patch, while reducing pressure will have the opposite effect and provide superior handling on snowy roads. It should be noted that this type of device has already been available on some models for several years, but the integration of this technology into the tire would be a first on the market.
Hankook eMembrane
In the same vein, Hankook had already come up with the idea in 2014 of a tire whose contact surface adapts to the conditions. The result? The eMembrane, a concept that even won a prize at the 2014 International Design Excellence Awards. Rather than adapting to road conditions, however, it evolves according to its speed and adjusts its tread. The tread has been designed with a central cavity that fills up when the vehicle reaches high speed. This allows the car to minimize friction and save fuel at low speed without losing any efficiency. This begs the question: when will we see the first adaptive tire on our roads?
Bridgestone Air Free Concept
The company Bridgestone isn’t alone in developing an airless tire, but it’s the spoked design of its three generations of prototypes unveiled between 2011 and 2017 that makes their design exceptional enough to make the list. With a very thin thread and a spoked core made of ultra-resistant resin, it’s a far cry from a conventional rigid tire. Since it’s capable of quickly absorbing shocks and returning to its original shape with little impact on the user, riding with an airless tire seems to be quite comfortable!
Goodyear Oxygen
Inspired by the brand’s ecological ideals and to raise public awareness of the challenges of recycling materials and greenhouse gas emissions, Goodyear unveiled this bold concept in 2018: a tire that breathes. Inside, it is a carpet of living moss that allows CO2 to be transformed into oxygen while it is being hydrated by the moisture collected in the air by the wheel material. Although it’s of little use to the driver, just imagine the air quality if everyone drove with these tires, and you’d see the benefits!
Of course, these were only five examples among the multitude of sometimes unusual concepts presented by the manufacturers. Still, we can easily see a few clues about the nature of the tire of the future. The car of tomorrow will surely be equipped with intelligent tires that know how to adapt to all conditions and are protected from punctures. Who knows, maybe one day it will even be natural to drive on lichen!
