Optimum pressure: Goodyear AMT tyres that won’t lose air

Optimum pressure: Goodyear AMT tyres that won’t lose air

Everyone knows the importance of maintaining optimum tyre pressure (we hope!), but we sometimes forget to do so, or lack the discipline to regularly check. Well, if the good folks at Goodyear have their way, we won’t need to bother with manually inflating tyres in the future.

Say hello to Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology (AMT), a new innovation currently undergoing development. The headline here is that AMT tyres will remain inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics. All components of the AMT system, including a miniaturised pump, will be fully contained within the black donut!

“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. 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. This will become the kind of technological breakthrough that people will wonder how they ever lived without,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear’s Chief Technical Officer.

Last month, Goodyear successfully applied for a grant from the Luxemburg government for R&D of an AMT system for consumer tyres. That work will be conducted at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg. In the US, the Department of Energy’s Office of Vehicle Technology recently awarded Goodyear a $1.5 million grant for R&D and demonstration of the AMT system for commercial truck tyres.

So things are looking good for the AMT, but Goodyear isn’t giving any timeline on when this tech would be commercially available. In the meantime, make it a habit to regularly check your tyre pressure for fuel savings, optimum road holding and longer tyre life.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • The ladies would love this…

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  • yc.low on Aug 18, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    Great tyre technology break through. Not only the ladies like this, I also like it. I used to take my tyre pressure before I start my journey but now I am too lazy to do it. Good work by Goodyear.

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  • kington on Aug 18, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    WhaT happened to Michelin’s Tweel?

    I think that was a huge step forward for tyres but i guess, if they do so, other manufacturers will be in trouble. Probably a case of not disrupting the industry. Goodwill?

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  • MoFaz on Aug 18, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    even big companies like Goodyear applied for RnD funds from various governments… and here people soo bising about RnD funds given to Proton.

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    • Well at least they have something to show for the funds… RnD funds given to proton seems to be going into a black hole never to be seen again.

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  • Jimmy on Aug 18, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    No habuan for others already if successful, and not too expensive.

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  • Carl Wong on Aug 19, 2011 at 12:10 am

    But how can you be lazy to adjust your tire pressures?? You use more fuel and money and get less mileage per tank if it drops below the recommended value, and release more emissions too…

    Anyways for those who care and for maximum fuel efficiency/economy and much longer tire life I now adjust all my tires to max load – 10% while still be in the safe zone. I don’t refer to the door side any more LOL. If max load (on the tires) is 44psi, I pump it all the way up to 40psi, same for all 4 tires for a good balance. I get more kms per tank, steering feels lighter and even handling is better I think.

    I believe you can drive greener by doing this alone, not even changing other factors yet such as driving style, enjoy motoring :).

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    • Carl Wong on Aug 20, 2011 at 5:31 am

      The rolling resistance of the tires decreases when you increase the pressures, hybrids and eco cars use low rolling resistance tires to increase fuel efficiency. I wonder why can’t normal cars use them too??

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  • Carl Wong on Aug 19, 2011 at 12:12 am

    In addition I have my own small tire pressure gauge at home so I could check any time when the tires are cold. And I pump those pressures every 1-2 months.

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    • TFazuin on Aug 19, 2011 at 7:40 am

      40 psi on a regular sized tyre is overinflation unless you carry heavy loads or you use large diameter rims like 18,19 inch. My tyre pressure on the door has two recomended pressure for a standard 195/55/15. 28 psi for normal driving and 34 PSi for high speed driving. Putting it at 40 means that only the centre section of the tyre touches the ground but the edges do not touch the ground, reducing ground contact points. Its all right when you put 40psi and driving on a dry road, but try driving that on a heavy rain day and see what happens. Reemember if you put at 40 when cold it will expand to 45-46 Psi (which is close to your tyre’s breaking point of 44 Psi) psi when hot eveny when you use nitrogen instead of air because there are still traces of air and water vapour in the tyre.

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      • Carl Wong on Aug 20, 2011 at 2:03 am

        It’s all up to you actually, as long as it’s somewhere slightly higher than recommended values it should be good.

        I forgot to mention that the tires are hot actually (some distance covered before I reach the station) when I pump pressures so the actual pressure is actually slightly lower than 40 psi, 16 inches tires I checked them when they’re cold at home with the pressure gauge to get more accurate values. I checked a few days later after adjusting and the pressures decreased just slightly, it didn’t expand to 45 psi, no worries. I check them very often at home, once in every few days to a week.

        You save fuel because the contact area of the tires and the ground is reduced, that’s the point, as long as it’s not reduced too much it’s safe.

        I had driven under heavy rain and it handles the same, or even better :]!!!

        Thanks for the feedback.

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    • Which shops gives a good variety of decent portable gauges ?
      need to implement this suggestion by Carl Wong….”small tire pressure gauge at home”.
      Anybody up for suggestions ?
      Tq

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  • loveit on Aug 19, 2011 at 8:26 am

    energy waste to me…coz losses is imminent using this tyre..” without the need for any external pumps or electronics” where else those inflate device derive inflating energy from? the kinetic from the tyre of course..and where else the kinetic came from? the engine (churn by today’s not too well priced fuel)..

    how lazy people can come for a sake of checking and inflating tyre to optimum which intervally only 2 week to a month ?

    but FC concern people…every joule count!

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