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Innovations in the field of the tyre are progressing to offer more durable and reliable tyres as well as a secure and productive driving experience.

Some significant advancements regarding tyres are being made in the tyre market by both big and small tyre manufacturers as well as online tyre vendors such as Pitstoparabia.

Key advancements include:

• Agronomical Tyres
• Better Fuel Economy
• Improved Tyre Life
• Less Expensive Tyres
• Creating adaptable and all-terrain tyre

These advancements are visioned by all the tyre manufactures, in fact, many are close to making it a reality.

These envisioned tyres imply that drivers are guaranteed with better driving experience while being safe on the road.

A prime challenge is to manufacture a single tyre for a wide range of applications and adjusting execution criteria of the tyre. Such as the solution against:

• Cuts
• Debris on the road
• Excessive fuel consumption
• Fluctuating air pressure in the tyre (both over and under expansion effects the life of the tyre)
• Harsh climate
• Hydroplaning
• Load limitations
• Loud noise
• Non-reusable tyres
• Poor Handling
• Possibility of getting punctured (already being solved with NPT)
• Potholes
• Resistance to heat and resistance to abrasion
• Speed limitations
• Tear and wear
• Terrain limitations

Some of the above issues are apparently being combated via electronic monitoring systems such as Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) & electronic weighing devices to prevent overloading.

However, currently, the main issue is that there are multiple variations of a tyre having unique specifications, so it is hard to stick with one tyre hence piling up expenses.

On the contrary, the end-user desires and manufacturers want to develop all in one multipurpose tyre with increased life span and overall safety.

Since car manufacturers are introducing technologies such as electric and self-driving vehicles, tyre manufacturers have to keep up. We have compiled some of the innovative tyre technologies introduced by well-known tyre manufacturers, so stay tuned with this article and decide which one would you buy for your next-generation vehicle.

Latest Tyre technologies

Following are some of the envisioned tyre technologies we expect to see on the road in upcoming years:

Eagle 360 Urban tyre –  Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company

On 7^th of the March 2017 at Geneva, Goodyear uncovered its envisioned smart tyre called ‘Eagle 360 Urban’.

In a developing and linked environment characterized by the driverless and connected vehicles mostly in urban areas, Goodyear wants to connect the environment, tyres and vehicles in a more relaxed and productive manner. This connectivity is visioned to bring about safer roads while creating a network just like a hive of bees knowing exactly what to do.

The spherical shape that can manoeuvre 360 degrees is the primary idea of the Eagle 360 Urban tyre. This tyre was manufacture from the idea of the multi-directional circle to coordinate self-governing driving through expanded degrees of mobility and security. Furthermore, this tyre is to be controlled by Artificial Intelligence and will be able to choose, adapt, detect, and interface.

Eagle 360 Urban tyre will incorporate information and evaluate it just like a brain with the help of artificial intelligence. The tyre will turn out to be a piece of the vehicle’s sensory system, connected with the Internet of Things in real-time. That way, the tyre will be equipped to adapt to the developing needs of drivers and ever-changing environment.

Following are some of the outlined features of the tyre:

1. Artificial Intelligence for progressive decisions
2. High-sensory capacity to adapt to the environment
3. Intelligent morphing tread for overall handling
4. The bionic skin allows self-healing repair
5. The spherical shape moves in all directions and contributes to comfort, safety and manoeuvrability

Concept Michelin tyre – Michelin

In 2017, Michelin unveiled a concept rechargeable 3D printed tyre envisioned for the future. This project was launched in August 2016.

Michelin concept tyre will be entirely based on the principle of nature while creating a sustainable and effective future for tyres. This concept of the tyre is set to increase safety as well as simplify maintainability.

This concept tyre included the idea for both the wheel and tyres as:

• Airless
• Connected
• Customizable
• Organic

This concept tyre is a fantasy, which is within the reach and capabilities of Michelin in the near future.

Superelastic tyre – NASA

The tyre known as Superelastic tyre was produced for future Moon and Mars missions by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This innovative tyre was motivated by the Apollo lunar tyres.

However, later o, the idea originated that this tyre is a feasible option in contrast to pneumatic tyres here on Earth.

Following are the prominent features of superelastic tyre:

• Versatile
• Strong
• Safe
• Non-pneumatic
• Lightweight
• Have increased load index
• Fit for experiencing high strain, rather than normal flexible materials
• Eco-friendliness
• Can withstand inordinate twisting without perpetual harm
• Better handling and traction

Air Free Concept tyres – Bridgestone

On April 17, 2017, at Tokyo Bridgestone introduced the ‘Air Free concept tyre’, an innovative tyre that does not need to be expanded with air as well as it does not gets punctured. This tyre is no more a concept but a reality of 2019, Bridgestone Tyre Corporation is planning to make these tyres available in the market by 2019.

This ‘air-free concept tyre’ does not require air pressure to support the overall weight of the vehicle rather it has spokes that do the trick. In fact, these spokes are far more effective than air pressure.

Initially, Bridgestone is manufacturing air-free concept types for next-gen bicycles hence enabling bicycles to be puncture free.

Oxygen tyre –  Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company

On March 6, 2018, at Geneva International Motor Show Goodyear presented the idea of a concept tyre called Oxygen tyre. This tyre is a realistic depiction of breathing life into the tyre, it is envisioned to incorporated living moss inside the sidewall of the tyre.

The open structure of the tyre and the tyre’s tread enables photosynthesis to happen within the sidewall of the tyre and in this manner discharging oxygen into the air. This tyre is basically an answer of a visionary for a cleaner, progressively advantageous, more secure and increasingly breathable urban areas.

Following are some of the outlined features of the oxygen tyre:

• Cleaning the Air
• Recycling Worn Tyres
• Generating Electricity
• Communicating at the Speed of Light (LiFi)

Final Take on Future of the tyre

These future tyres are set to change the course of the tyre manufacturing industry as well as driver experience on the road.

All of these innovative tyre ideas are motivated by progressively developing an economy, increasing material waste, increased cost, and requirement for frequent maintainability.

These tyres will hopefully make the urban areas safe, agronomical, and most importantly breathable.