You may think a tire is almost worthless without any air in it but tire manufacturers like Goodyear have recently spent a lot of time and effort in developing airless tires. These air-free tires are to be used in combination with battery-operated electric cars and automatically–driven cars.

andreas160578/ Pixabay. Airless tires are to be used with automatic cars

Flat tires might seem like a trivial problem, but little by little, they put a dent in the operating hours and the value obtained out of a vehicle. Problems caused by flat tires are a major factor when it comes to automobile breakdowns and the monetary cost and effort dedicated to fixing flat tires can be annoying.

Under Goodyear’s, new proposal, ordinary tires are to be replaced with solid tires, called non-pneumatic tires. Goodyear has recently tested these solid tires for successful durability at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. The maneuverability test was also a success, conducted at a speed of up to 55 miles per hour.

Scottslm/Pixabay. Goodyear is working on creating airless tires

Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations, and Chief Technology Officer for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co said that non-pneumatic tires are significant for their durability and up-time. But these durable solid tires are limited by their high cost of manufacturing and weight.

In an ordinary tire, the load is carried by the air present inside it, and air is a cheap material to carry the load, Helsel explained. The challenge with solid tires is to use such material which is impactful enough to carry the weight without adding to the weight costs exponentially.

A proposed solution to the problem is to use a basket weave of stiff materials instead of a solid rubber ring. Goodyear tested the basket weave against the rubber ring, which is sturdy and rough-riding, while the basket weave is used between the wheel and the tread, replacing the air in a traditional tyre.

Buecherwurm_65/Pixabay. Flat tires will be a thing of the past.

The benefits of air-free tires are many. Imagine never having to carry a spare tire or deal with a flat tire ever again. No sharp objects on the road can cause a hindrance in your otherwise peaceful journey now. With no worry of getting a flat tire, there is no need to carry a spare tire or the tools required for installing it, leaving more room in your trunk for more important things.

Air loss in tires may seem like an easily-solvable problem for domestic purposes, but in logistics, farming, and construction businesses, the problem can cause considerable loss in terms of productivity. Solid tires would be a welcome development for businesses relying on smooth logistical function.

According to Helsel, this is a ‘really difficult problem,’ however, Goodyear plans to launch affordable, durable, and completely sustainable maintenance-free tires by the year 2030.