WASHINGTON – It’s something all drivers should know how to do: inflate a car’s tires.
But it can be hard to know how much air to put in and an under-inflated tire can go unnoticed, leading to difficulty steering and handling of the vehicle.
What if car tires could inflate themselves?
Goodyear has been working on self-regulating tires. Wired.com reports the company will start testing its new self-inflating technology on commercial vehicles next year.
A sensor inside the tires detects when tire pressure is too low. A valve mounted on the sidewall opens as a person drives and the vehicle’s weight compresses a tube that injects air to increase tire pressure.
If the tires can handle large commercial vehicles, the concept will most likely make its way down to the sedans, SUVs and coupes that most people drive.
WTOP’s Veronica Robinson contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
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