Wheel-giant Goodyear will be displaying some new concepts in the world's oldest invention at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Along with a self-inflating model, the company plans to unveil an innovative tire filled with springs for use on extraterrestrial areas.
Tires for the future
Goodyear's research and development teams have been working overtime as the tire maker seeks cutting edge solutions to meet the changing needs of the automotive industry.
Goodyear's senior vice president and chief technical officer Jean-Claude Kihn said:
"Goodyear has always been proactive in research and development, and we are looking forward to displaying a range of innovations that people will never have seen before. These technologies have been specifically developed to meet the ever-changing requirements of modern consumers and society focused on performance, sustainability, the environment and convenience."
Considering the environment
The "BioIsopren" is a material that replaces petroleum-based isoprene that most tires used. It is used on one of the tires displayed in Geneva. Goodyear wants to make sure the world does not depend on petroleum so much.
Also in the interest of reducing fossil fuel consumption, Goodyear will show off its Air Maintenance Technology, a self-inflating tire system that can help reduce fuel consumption by self-regulating tire pressure.
According to Kihn:
"Consumers often overlook the importance of maintaining proper tire pressure. We believe this technology will have immediate positive impact for drivers in terms of performance and for the environment through improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and extended tire life. Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging to the point that we are now ready to demonstrate it in Geneva for the first time."
'Spring tire' might go to the moon
The brand new "spring tire," developed in collaboration with The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is a concept designed for use on the moon or other extraterrestrial surfaces. It also might find some takers for use in the harshest areas on our home-planet.
The spring tire is so-named because it contains 800 springs. It is intended to carry heavy loads over the most rugged terrains for long distances. In 1971, Goodyear also designed the wire-mesh tires used on the Lunar Roving Automobile in the Apollo moon missions. The brand new tires, states Goodyear, will out-perform the wire-mesh version for distance and in load-bearing.
Joe Lettieri, Goodyear's lead researcher on the spring tire project, said:
"This tire is extremely durable and very energy efficient. The spring design contours to any surface providing maximum traction. All of the energy used to deform the tire is returned when the springs rebound, so it will not generate heat like a pneumatic tire."
No rubber on the moon
Extreme heat and cold change the way rubber functions, which is why NASA and Goodyear decided to stay away from using it in the brand new lunar tires. Rubber also does not fare well with solar radiation that could be found on lunar surfaces.
Getting the R&D award
The tire-maker was awarded the R&D 100 award for its spring tires in 2010. This is the first time, however, the technology will be shown to the public with a practical application.
On March 8, the Geneva Motor Show began and showed off the technology. It will stay there until March 18 when the show closes.
Tires for the future
Goodyear's research and development teams have been working overtime as the tire maker seeks cutting edge solutions to meet the changing needs of the automotive industry.
Goodyear's senior vice president and chief technical officer Jean-Claude Kihn said:
"Goodyear has always been proactive in research and development, and we are looking forward to displaying a range of innovations that people will never have seen before. These technologies have been specifically developed to meet the ever-changing requirements of modern consumers and society focused on performance, sustainability, the environment and convenience."
Considering the environment
The "BioIsopren" is a material that replaces petroleum-based isoprene that most tires used. It is used on one of the tires displayed in Geneva. Goodyear wants to make sure the world does not depend on petroleum so much.
Also in the interest of reducing fossil fuel consumption, Goodyear will show off its Air Maintenance Technology, a self-inflating tire system that can help reduce fuel consumption by self-regulating tire pressure.
According to Kihn:
"Consumers often overlook the importance of maintaining proper tire pressure. We believe this technology will have immediate positive impact for drivers in terms of performance and for the environment through improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and extended tire life. Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging to the point that we are now ready to demonstrate it in Geneva for the first time."
'Spring tire' might go to the moon
The brand new "spring tire," developed in collaboration with The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is a concept designed for use on the moon or other extraterrestrial surfaces. It also might find some takers for use in the harshest areas on our home-planet.
The spring tire is so-named because it contains 800 springs. It is intended to carry heavy loads over the most rugged terrains for long distances. In 1971, Goodyear also designed the wire-mesh tires used on the Lunar Roving Automobile in the Apollo moon missions. The brand new tires, states Goodyear, will out-perform the wire-mesh version for distance and in load-bearing.
Joe Lettieri, Goodyear's lead researcher on the spring tire project, said:
"This tire is extremely durable and very energy efficient. The spring design contours to any surface providing maximum traction. All of the energy used to deform the tire is returned when the springs rebound, so it will not generate heat like a pneumatic tire."
No rubber on the moon
Extreme heat and cold change the way rubber functions, which is why NASA and Goodyear decided to stay away from using it in the brand new lunar tires. Rubber also does not fare well with solar radiation that could be found on lunar surfaces.
Getting the R&D award
The tire-maker was awarded the R&D 100 award for its spring tires in 2010. This is the first time, however, the technology will be shown to the public with a practical application.
On March 8, the Geneva Motor Show began and showed off the technology. It will stay there until March 18 when the show closes.
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