Goodyear unveils spherical concept tyre at Geneva Motor Show

According to a recent study from Navigant Research, 85 million autonomous-capable vehicles are expected to be sold annually around the world by 2035, for example. According to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Tech Choice Study, consumers are most concerned with ensuring safety through technology in autonomous cars.

"By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tyres will play an even more important role as the primary link to the road," said Joseph Zekoski, Goodyear's senior vice president and chief technical officer. "Goodyear's concept tyres play a dual role in the future both as creative platforms to push the boundaries of conventional thinking and as testbeds for next-generation technologies."

Manoeuvrability and safety

The unique shape of the Goodyear Eagle-360 could contribute to safety and maneuverability to match the demands of autonomous mobility.The spherical shape of the tyre is key to delivering ultimate manoeuvrability. The multi-orientation tyres move in all directions, contributing to passenger safety. Active technology allows the tyre to move as needed to reduce sliding from potential hazards, such as black ice or sudden obstacles, so it contributes to staying on a safe path.

Because 360 degree turns are possible with this tyre, it could tackle anticipated parking constrictions of the future, as less space will be needed for cars fitted with spherical tyres to pull into parking spots. Assuming public parking areas play the same role, this could significantly increase the capacity of public parking areas without increasing their size.

Magnetic levitation and connectivity

To connect with the body of the car, the Goodyear Eagle-360 concept tyre relies on magnetic levitation. The tyre is suspended from the car by magnetic fields, similar to magnetic levitation trains, which is said to increase passenger comfort and reduce noise.

Goodyear imagined another feature, connectivity, to optimise driving conditions in autonomous vehicles, which is brought to life in three features. First, sensors inside the Eagle-360 concept tyre register the road conditions, including weather and road surface conditions, and communicate this information to the car as well as to other vehicles to enhance safety. Secondly, leveraging Goodyear's tread wear and pressure monitoring technology, sensors in the Eagle-360 register and regulate the wear of the tyre to extend mileage. Finally, because the tread is produced by a 3D printer, customising the tyre based on the region where the driver lives is a new possibility.

Biomimicry - inspired by nature

Elements of the Eagle-360 design showcase biomimicry, which is the imitation of nature. The tread mimics the pattern of brain coral, and its multidirectional blocks and grooves are said to help to secure a safe contact patch. The groove bottom has the same elements as a natural sponge, which stiffens when dry yet softens when wet to deliver adequate driving performance and aquaplaning resistance. This texture also absorbs water on the road and ejects water from the tyre footprint through centrifugal force to reduce the risk of aquaplaning.