Wet tyres typically spell less grip and pave the way for loss of control, but Mercedes-Benz has an idea: it has applied for a patent for a system which uses water spraying to control tyre temperatures.
Through monitoring of tyre temperatures, the system applies a cooling spray of water to the tyres should they exceed a pre-determined threshold. The idea behind it is to prevent tyres from overheating under hard use in hot weather, which could lead to tyre failure. “Increased driving safety is achieved as the bursting of tires can be prevented by applying the fluid to a tire which is overheated,” says the company’s patent application.
Conversely, the system could be employed in much colder climates; it can spray warm water on tyres to reduce the build-up of snow and ice, and to prevent under-inflation in cold weather. According to the patent, water can be heated from the vehicle’s coolant system for its cold climate application.
This system also employs sensors to detect rainfall that might cool the car’s tyres, and it also collects rainwater or melted snow from the windscreen and rear window to refill the reservoir for the temperature management system. So far, this idea is only at its patent application stage, so it remains to be seen if such a device will materialise and reach production.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Nothing new here as our lorries been using this decade ago
lorry spray water to cool drumbrakes..not for tyres..so merc is 1st
Top gear UK invented this when they send a Toyota hilux to a volcano.
Invent a system/device allowing someone to pee during traffic instead
Why need to when drivers just point it out the side window and spray cars below?
if this thing adds 5 percent of total car weight to the car, no need to patent, coz nobody will copy.
Automatic transmission also added weight to the car compared to manual. But every car manufacturers are using it
Good for drifting
Should spray water at driver when driven like maniac, that way can keep tire from overheat, and less complex to build too. :)
i like the idea of rain water harvesting.