Goodyear showcases battery-charging and shape lifting tyres at Geneva Motor Show

Geneva: The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company showcased two concept tyres at this week's Geneva Motor Show. The brand new concept tyres unveiled by the company holds a lot of potential to change the role of car tyres in the future.

The first concept, which is named as “BHO3”, is said to offer a means of charging an electric vehicle's battery by transforming the heat generated from flexing as the tyre rolls into electrical energy. Specialised materials have been used to make this tyre that would optimise the electricity generation capacities of the tyre. Also, it would increase the rolling resistance capacity of the tyre. Goodyear comments: “As demand for electric cars grows, this technology has the potential to significantly contribute to the solution of future mobility challenges. This visionary tyre technology could eliminate the vehicle-range anxiety motorists may have with electric cars”

The second concept Goodyear showed in the Geneva Motor Show is called “Triple Tube”. It has many similarities to the Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) that the tyre maker showcased at the Geneva three years back. As per Goodyear, the concept tyre contains three internal tubes that adjust tyre inflation pressure in response to changing road conditions.The tubes are placed below the tread and near the inboard and outboard shoulders of the tyres as well as the centre. This special type of tyre relies on an internal pump that moves air from the main chamber to the three different air tubes. Depending upon the road position, the tyre adjusts itself to three different positions. It also shows an Eco/Safety position that provides reduced rolling resistance, a sporty position, with reduced inflation within the inboard shoulder tube, that provides the driver with dry handling through an increased conatct patch, and a Wet Traction position, with maximum inflation in the centre tube, that offers high aquaplanning resistance through a raised tread in the tyre's centre area.

Joe Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice-president and chief technical officer, said: “These concept tyres reimagine the role that tyres may play in the future. We envision a future in which our products become more integrated with the vehicle and the consumer, more environmentally friendly and more versatile.”