This wild video from Goodyear introduces a new tire that the company has in mind for future driverless cars. Instead of employing the traditional wheel shape, they’re now spheres. The Eagle 360 “concept tire” is still in the dreaming stage, but for now, let’s take their word for it all. It’s more fun that way.
Like four BB–8s, a car’s Eagle 360s can roll any which way, suspended beneath the car by magnetic levitation, as opposed to being mounted on an axle. Movement isn’t nose first, as in the cars we have now, but via fluid lateral movement. Since less room is required for parking—vehicles slide sideways into position without needing to turn—the company suggests the tires will increase the capacity of public parking areas without enlarging them.
Goodyear says that the tire’s 3D-printed design is biomimicry-inspired. Tires hold onto wet roads via a “spongelike groove design” that softens when wet—thereby absorbing more water and avoiding hydroplaning. In this scenario, the water gets ejected from the treads via centrifugal force. In better weather, the spongy material dries out and hardens. The tires also have a layer of foam beneath the surface to help ensure the largest area of contact with the road.
But wait, there’s more. Sensors in the Eagle 360s monitor road conditions and adjust the car’s speed accordingly. The networked tires notify trailing vehicles what to expect, allowing those cars to position their own tires in preparation for upcoming conditions. Other sensors track tire wear and readjust the sphere positions, in order to optimize performance and extend the lives of the tires.
