Goodyear explores renewable materials with reCharge concept tyre

Goodyear’s reCharge concept tyre explores bio-degradable materials while eliminating age-old problems tyres face.

The automotive industry is changing at a rapid pace. The majority that are spearheading the efforts are looking to include renewable energy sources such as Electric and Hydrogen as well as the wider adoption of animal-free materials in the interior.

Likewise, tyre companies are following suit by refining tyre construction to suit future applications. Goodyear, on the other hand, is looking way beyond the present towards the decades to come. Goodyear has introduced its reCharge self-regenerating concept tyre which can adapt itself to meet individual mobility needs.

Basically, the Goodyear reCharge concept includes a number of innovative features built around three pillars:

Personalised

• At the core of the reCharge concept is a reloadable and biodegradable tread compound that can be recharged with individual capsules. Filled with a customised liquid compound allows the tread to regenerate and the tyre to adapt over time to climatic circumstances, road conditions, or simply how drivers want to travel. Employing artificial intelligence a driver profile can be created for tailored customisation of the liquid compound to suit each driver.

Sustainable

• Goodyear says that the compound itself would be made from biological material and would be reinforced with fibres inspired by one of the toughest natural materials in the world – spider silk. This would make it both extremely durable and 100 per cent biodegradable.

Hassle-Free

• In addition to radically simplifying the process of replacing the tyres with rechargeable capsules, the tread would be supported by a light-weight, non-pneumatic frame and tall-and-narrow shape. This is a thin, robust low-maintenance construction will eliminate the need for pressure maintenance or downtime related to punctures.

“Goodyear wants the tyre to be an even more powerful contributor to answering consumers’ specific mobility needs. It was with that ambition that we set out to create a concept tyre primed for the future of personalised and convenient electric mobility.”

Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe