Originally Posted By: RamFan
Originally Posted By: Burt
Originally Posted By: dla
Goodyear announced today
I did not see any details in the article about the technology. Are the tires self inflating or is it in the wheel? My guess is its complicated and expensive, otherwise it would have been done a long time ago.
I didn't catch details in the release either, other then the small pump thing.
However, I think, THINK, that it shouldn't be too big of a step in innovation. TPMS are already here, if they could use the standard TPMS to activate a switch for the pump then it should work, I have a feeling that we'll see valvestem-less tires though. Instead of a valve stem we'll see a what is essentially a valve stem but this would be the source of air for the pump.
Is the pump inside the wheel? how do you get air and electricity to the spinning wheel and keep the wheel balanced. If the pump is outside the wheel, how do you get air into a sealed, spinning tire?
TPMS's are enough of a pain and I hear numerous reports of technicians damaging them and replacement costs are high relative to the benefit.