There are changes taking place in every industry. With all the preliminary advancements that we are seeing, the middle of this decade should see things radically different than they are today.
Why should the tire industry be any different?
Is it possible that we see a future where tires repair themselves? If what Goodyear is unveiling, this could be the case. The idea is the tire never needs replacing nor rotation because the tire regenerates as it wears down. At the same time, there is no need to check tire pressure or repair flats.
The project, called reCharge, is a move to bring tires into a completely different realm. By creating a scenario where the tired, itself, already remains in place, we would see an extreme shift in the entire industry.
How this works is rather simple.
The crux of reCharge's regeneration capabilities is a biodegradable, reloadable liquid compound that's recharged by capsules. The compound is fortified by a mixture of dandelion rubber and fibers similar to spider silk, known to be one of the toughest raw materials found in nature. reCharge would push out this paste on demand through pipes to the wheel's surface, where it hardens into new tread.
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-goodyear-biodegradable-concept-regenerates.html
Here is a promotional video that covers some of the possibilities with this technology.
This is just another example of how the materials sciences is changing many different industries. The automotive one is undergoing a huge shift with the move to electric vehicles and the potential of autonomous driving. Now we are seeing even the most basic foundation piece, the tire, is facing a big change.
Tires are a big detriment to the environment so reducing the number of tires used would be of great benefit. At the same time, we see a lot of money spent over the course of a vehicle on tires. In the future, we are looking at many things that will take the cost per mile much lower compared to where it stands now.
Things are moving very quickly and everything is going to be "smart" very soon.
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Posted via Steemleo
