Goodyear, a leading global tire manufacturing company, has unveiled the concept of a self-healing tire with AI features that allow treads to change based on the environment and climate. Everything is developed in a "rechargeable" system which allows you to have wheels that are always efficient through the insertion of special "cartridges" containing the compound.
ReCharge Concept never inflates (and deflates)
Goodyear says its reCharge Concept tire was created to align with the world's growing shifts towards electric and sustainable mobility options. The tire concept it was designed with three goals in mind: customization, sustainability and hassle-free use, according to the manufacturer. It was also designed to increase the demands for customization: the tires can change depending on the terrain, climate and driver needs with the help of artificial intelligence.
ReCharge Concept can adapt to road conditions and climate, whether driving on the highway or in the mountains, according to Goodyear. In the centre, a slot to receive a "refill liquid" which restores the tread footprint and adapts it to different types of periods or asphalt (summer, winter and other conditions).
The potential harm? Laughable. The maintenance? Idem. At the end of its life cycles (which thanks to the "refills" promise to be much, much longer than those of a traditional tyre) it can be returned to the parent company or exchanged. The company does not rule out the possibility that, as for certain printers, the price of the tires will be very low, to allow for greater diffusion.
Also because the actual expense will reside precisely in the purchase of the refills.
What to say? Goodyear has tuned its research on products that can respond well to needs of the near future. Less possession, more service, it was said. Well, I see reCharge Concept equipping the endless fleets of electric cars that will pass through our cities, or the wheel mini-houses of the future. Easy to maintain, undemanding in running costs. Am I too optimistic?
