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Michelin, Continental and Hankook are working on the tire of the future.

Neumáticos flexibles que se benefician de campos magnéticos. Neumáticos de rodadura dividida. Ruedas que se expanden y se comprimen para subir escaleras. Neumáticos inteligentes que se autorreparan… Parecen inventos fruto del atrezo de una película de ciencia ficción. Pero nada más lejos de la realidad. Así son los prototipos del neumático del futuro.

The tires of the future are being profiled in the R&D departments of manufacturers such as Michelin, Continental or Hankook. And the wheels are being designed with polyurethane or synthetic rubber. In addition, among their characteristics, the tires have the ability to communicate with the driver, adapt to the bumps in the terrainto the rain or even to the snow.

Michelin has a clear vision for the tire of the future. In fact, at the last Movin'On mobility summitpresented its prototype. The main features of Michelin's Vision Concept are based on its possibilities of customization y adaptation to different conditions of use.

The Vision Concept is rechargeable and, thanks to a 3D printer, can replace its worn surface in just a few minutes. In addition, the structure of the tread automatically adapts to road conditions or weather conditions. For its part, the 3D printing stations will be created by Michelin itself when it decides to market this tire.

Another of its characteristics is that it has no air thanks to its design with alveoli. Therefore, it cannot be punctured or suffer a blowout. At the same time, the tire of the future is made of biodegradable materials. Michelin is thus committed to creating a tire that is as environmentally friendly as possible. According to Cyrille Roget, Michelin North America, this could be implemented within 10 to 15 years.

The Vision Concept offers connectivity functions thanks to a series of sensors. With them, it knows at all times the condition of the tire, with particular attention to the condition of the tread. The surface composition can also be modified. For example, we could print a winter tire or one for dry asphalt.

To modify all these characteristics Michelin has an app that allows you to monitor the condition of the tire and even modify it according to the use it is given.

With an eye to the more immediate future, Continental presented two new technologies at the Frankfurt International Motor Show: ContiSense and ContiAdapt. Their innovations will enable the tire to communicate with the vehicle and the driver' s cell phone via Bluetooth. It will also significantly reduce the risk of punctures. But its advantages are not limited to its composition, as it will also save fuel.

Specifically, ContiSense uses electrically conductive rubber compounds that immediately alert the driver to changes in pressure or temperature of the ground or tire. ContiAdapt, on the other hand, uses microprocessors to adjust tire pressure and modify tire tread.

Hankook did not want to be left behind. The Korean tire maker also unveiled five innovative tire concepts of the future at the Frankfurt Motor Show .

Its tires of the future have been developed around the Connect to the Connected World concept. Thus, the company wants to develop possible innovative tire technologies. As we know, the mobility of the future will involve systems such as car sharing, autonomous driving and connected vehicles. Its models of the tire of the future feature:

• Ability to climb stairs and overcome obstacles.
• Excellent cornering characteristics thanks to the Skatin technique.
• Self-powered tires that are automatically positioned and removed according to the weight of the car.
• Flexibility and adaptation to magnetic fields.
• Two-wheel drive and excellent cornering performance.

To advise us we have the opinion of Euromaster tire experts , who tell us what will be the keys to the tire of the future: "The most immediate future of tires will be the connectivity of the same with the driver. Currently there are many vehicle functions that already warn of their status to make life easier and safer for the user. The tire is the only point of grip with the road and must communicate with the driver so that he is aware of its performance".

Euromaster also adds: "In the latest, Michelin is ahead in terms of performance throughout the life of the tire. In other words, it doesn't matter how deep the tread depth is, because the tire's performance remains intact up to the legal minimum required. The future holds surprises designed to make life easier for the driver: airless tires, greater longevity, adaptability to terrain....but let's not forget that the tire is already a safety element with a lot of technology behind it that is beyond the driver's knowledge".

We are undoubtedly in an era of technological apogee that will change our concept of "car" completely. How long will it take to roll this tire of the future?

Sources: El Mundo, ABC, Xataka.