Skip to main content

Goodyear innovation could make tyre pumps obsolete

Goodyear has announced it is developing Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) that will enable tyres to remain inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics. All components of the AMT system, including the miniaturised pump, will be fully contained within the tyre.
April 16, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
RSS843 Goodyear has announced it is developing Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) that will enable tyres to remain inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics. All components of the AMT system, including the miniaturised pump, will be fully contained within the tyre.

"While the technology is complex, the idea behind the AMT system is relatively simple and powered by the tyre itself as it rolls down the road," said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear senior vice president and chief technical officer.

"A tyre that can maintain its own inflation is something drivers have wanted for many years. Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging," said Kihn. "This will become the kind of technological breakthrough that people will wonder how they ever lived without."

Goodyear did not provide an estimate as to when this technology would be available at tyre retailers, but said the timetable would be accelerated due to recent government research grants in the US and Europe.

The United States Department of Energy's Office of Vehicle Technology Wednesday announced it has awarded a $1.5 million grant for research, development and demonstration of the AMT system for commercial truck tyres. The grant will be administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory and work will be conducted at Goodyear's Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio.

In July, Goodyear successfully applied for a grant from the Luxemburg government for research and development of an AMT system for consumer tyres. That work will be conducted at Goodyear's Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg.

"While similar in concept, there are significant differences in AMT systems for consumer and commercial tyres," said Kihn. "The tangible support from both the US and Luxembourg governments underscores the value of these projects and the many positive benefits they can provide drivers around the world."

In addition, the DOE's Office of Vehicle Technology today also announced that it will award a $1.5 million grant for a joint project between PPG Industries and Goodyear to improve the rolling resistance and fuel efficiency of tyres. The project's objective is to increase average fuel efficiency of passenger vehicle fleets through use of new tread and inner liner technologies.

"Advanced technologies that are invisible to the human eye – like those we are working on with PPG – will help to dramatically improve fuel efficiency of tyres while maintaining other important qualities such as traction and tread-life," said Kihn.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • GE researchers developing at-home refuelling station for NG vehicles
    July 20, 2012
    In what could help fuel widespread adoption of natural gas-powered (NG) vehicles in the US and globally, GE researchers, in partnership with Chart Industries and scientists at the University of Missouri, have been awarded a programme through Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) to develop an affordable at-home refuelling station that would meet ARPA-E’s target of $500 per station and reduce re-fuelling times from 5-8 hours to less than 1 hour. Natural gas prices are at an all-time low and t
  • Goodyear provides smart tyres for Tesloop fleet
    December 21, 2017
    In order to detect tyre problems or predict when one needs replacing, Goodyear is to equip Tesloop, the city-to-city service based on Tesla semi-autonomous vehicles, with wireless sensors to improve tyre management and boost uptime.
  • Intelligent powertrains could make cost cuts
    April 30, 2020
    Intelligent vehicle powertrains could be a way of making substantial cuts in operating costs and emissions. David Crawford looks at some far-reaching initiatives in Europe and North America
  • Funding to develop non-rare-earth magnet electric motors
    April 18, 2012
    The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded US$3 million to UQM Technologies for the development of non-rare-earth magnet electric motors for use in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The company will cost-share 25 per cent of the $4 million effort under the development programme.