Self inflating tires

[Slide Panda]

Googyear is rolling out  tires for commercial use with self inflation capability. Deets:

http://www.gizmag.com/goodyear-air-maintenance-technology-tires/24229/

Basically the tire has a tube, valve and processor system. If the sensor detects the pressure has dropped below a certain point it opens a valve from the outside to a tubular structure that's part of the tire. The rolling deformation of the tire and that tube act as a pump and forces pressurized air though another valve into the tire cavity.

Though it's only aimed at commercial trucking presently this is pretty cool and will probably tickle down to autos some day.

[spolic]

ha ha! 


I'm not the only one who types goog.

Goodyear


Pretty cool technology.

[He Man]

thats pretty bad ass!

[IdZer0]

I wonder how you specify what pressure you want (not all cars have even with the same tire size have the same pressure recommendation).

And would it keep the cold & hot pressure the same?

[sgollapalle]

And would it keep the cold & hot pressure the same?

The article doesn't really talk of deflating.. Hoping that there would be that system in place, else you'd be running over inflated tires in the summer.

Not sure how quick the system is adjusting the pressure, but it might end up working too much is the range if psi is not set right to accommodate for psi changes due to temp changes

[Slide Panda]

I expect there's some small processor that would contain the temp/pressure profile. Also, they may well have a mechanical valve set up that will vent when pressure passes a certain level. Plenty of ways to manage tire pressure.

[Adamm0621]

I'm surprised it has taken this long for something like this to evolve.  With the advances in ABS, traction control, back-up cameras, adjustable angle headlights, etc... You would think that something as important as tire pressure would have received more attention before now.