Goodyear Developing Regenerating Concept Tire
Goodyear is currently developing a self-regenerating concept tire, called the reCharge, that can adapt and change to meet individual mobility needs, the company has announced.
“Goodyear wants the tire to be an even more powerful contributor to answering consumers’ specific mobility needs, said Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, “It was with that ambition that we set out to create a concept tire primed for the future of personalized and convenient electric mobility.”
At the core of the reCharge concept is a reloadable and biodegradable tread compound that can be recharged with individual capsules. Filled with a customized liquid compound, these capsules allow the tread to regenerate and the tire to adapt over time to climatic circumstances, road conditions, or simply how you want to travel. Thanks to artificial intelligence, a driver profile would be created around which the liquid compound would be customized, generating a compound blend tailored to each individual.
The compound itself would be made from a biological material and would be reinforced with fibers inspired by one of the toughest natural materials in the world – spider silk. This would make it both extremely durable and 100 percent biodegradable.
In addition to simplifying the process of replacing your tires with rechargeable capsules, the tread would be supported by a light-weight, non-pneumatic frame and tall-and-narrow shape. This is a thin, robust low-maintenance construction that would eliminate the need for pressure maintenance or downtime related to punctures.
“The Goodyear reCharge is a concept tire without compromise, supporting personalized, sustainable and hassle-free electric mobility,” concluded Sebastien Fontaine, lead designer at the Goodyear Innovation Centre in Luxembourg.
