Goodyear Reveals New Tire Concepts at Geneva

It’s not just vehicle concepts that debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, automotive-related products also have their time to shine.

This year, tire manufacturer Goodyear unveiled two tire concepts that preview technologies that could radically change how we think of tires in the near future. The first tire concept is called the BHO3 and is capable of generating electricity. This is possible through the high tech materials that make up the tire. It can capture and transform energy created by heat when the tire flexes during normal driving conditions. The idea of the tire brings up the possibility of charging the batteries of electric vehicles.

2015 Geneva Motor Show Coverage

The other tire concept is called the Triple Tube. This concept features three internal tubes located beneath the tread and near the inboard and outboard shoulders of the tire, as well as the center. By relying on an internal pump moving air from the main chamber to the three individual air chambers or tubes, the tire is capable of automatically adjusting on its own based on road conditions to three different positions. One position is called the Eco/Safety position, which maximizes inflation in all three tubes to reduce rolling resistance. Another is the Sporty position, which reduces inflation within the inboard shoulder tube to give drivers better dry handling performance. The last position is the Wet Traction position, where the maximized inflation is i the center tube to provide high aquaplaning resistance through a raised tread in the center of the tire.

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