Searching for the air hose in the grimiest corner

of a neighborhood service station may soon become a thing of the past. With the help of a $1.5 million Department of Energy grant, Goodyear is developing a tire that regulates its own air pressure. Though the company refused to leak details of how the system works, a 2009 patent application shows that the tire employs a pressurized internal tube with inlet and outlet valves. This differs from the automatic inflation system on military vehicles that use onboard compressors. "The Air Maintenance Technology system is powered by the tire itself as it rolls down the road," says Goodyear chief technical officer Jean-Claude Kihn. Underinflation can lead to tire failure and a possible crash, but in most cases it just wastes fuel. According to Goodyear, underinflation cuts a car's efficiency by 2.5 to 3.3 percent, which, at current fuel prices, effectively adds more than 10 cents per gallon.

1. Intake

Air entering the inlet fills a small, high-pressure tube encircling the rim.

2. Big Push

Air is forced through the inner tube by ground pressure on a low tire.

3. Inflate

Tire pressure returns to normal as air fills it through the outlet valve.

4. Vent

Excess air escapes through the inlet port.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io