Goodyear announced it is developing an airless Goodyear tire with a pop-proof design. The tire is intended for use in automated driving situations, such as delivery robots or self-driving taxis. These use cases are excellent for the airless tire design as automated driving systems typically have minimal contingencies for events in which tires deflate.
The airless tire is referred to as a non-pneumatic tire, or NPT, and it is more reliable than inflatable tires due to its resilient structure. The tires are made up of interwoven layers formed into shock-absorbing triangle shapes that allow the tires to uphold a much greater weight than inflated tires.
Goodyear has completed over 75,000 miles of testing with these tires at speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour to prove the reliability of the tires.
Image Credit: Goodyear
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Airless Car Tires for Automated Vehicles
- The development of airless tires specifically for use in automated driving situations opens up opportunities for tire manufacturers to focus on developing specialized tires for emerging transportation technologies.
- Non-pneumatic Tire Technology
- The development of non-pneumatic tire technology, such as the interwoven triangle-shaped design used in the Goodyear NPT, presents opportunities for tire manufacturers to explore more durable and long-lasting alternatives to traditional inflatable tires.
- Expanded Use of Airless Tires
- The development and commercialization of airless tires for automated driving could potentially lead to increased use in other transportation industries, such as off-road vehicles or military vehicles.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Automotive Manufacturing
- The automotive manufacturing industry can benefit from the development of airless tires as an emerging technology that can improve the safety and reliability of automated driving systems.
- Transportation and Logistics
- The transportation and logistics industry can benefit from the application of airless tires for automated vehicles, particularly in the area of last-mile delivery with the use of delivery robots.
- Tire Manufacturing
- The tire manufacturing industry can explore non-pneumatic tire technology as a disruptive innovation opportunity, potentially leading to more environmentally sustainable and cost-efficient tire alternatives.
