USTMA members strive to improve the longevity and driving performance of the tires we design, make and sell.
Tire safety is our number one priority. USTMA members are always working to develop new technologies and practices that advance tire performance. Just as important, USTMA and its member companies are committed to educating consumers about their own role in tire safety on the road.
The tire industry continues to make innovative advancements in safety, performance and sustainability. The following includes a sample of those technologies.
Run-Flat Tires
Run-flat tires can travel safely for limited distances even after a tire loses pressure due to a puncture — up to 50 miles at 50 miles per hour, depending on manufacturer specifications. This allows drivers to navigate to a safe, convenient location to repair or replace the affected tire. Run-flat tires also help eliminate the need for rarely used spare tires and wheels, conserving materials and freeing up trunk space. Bridgestone, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli offer run-flat tires using one of two basic designs: reinforced sidewalls or a central support ring capable of carrying its share of the vehicle’s weight.
Self-Sealing Tires
Self-sealing tires, such as those sold by Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli,, contain an inner layer of sealant material that runs under the tread. In the event of a puncture, the sealant prevents loss of air pressure by either filling the hole or, if the object remains in place, forming a seal around it.
Airless Tires
Airless (or non-pneumatic) tires use mechanical structures, rather than air, to support the vehicle’s weight. For example, Goodyear markets airless tires for zero turn radius mowers and Michelin offers a line of airless radial tires for small‐scale utility, recreation, landscaping and construction vehicles. Looking ahead, Bridgestone has revealed an air free concept tire for commercial trucking applications that would support safer and more sustainable mobility in the fleet segment, and Goodyear, Hankook and Michelin have introduced concept tires that would bring airless tires to the passenger vehicle market. Additionally, Bridgestone, Cooper, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin and Toyo have been active in the development and evaluation of airless tire technologies for additional vehicle categories.
Integrated Sensors, Chips and Tags
To take advantage of the increased use of wireless connectivity in automobiles, manufacturers like Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Goodyear, Kumho, Hankook, Michelin and Pirelli continue to develop solutions that utilize sensors, chips or tags to wirelessly transmit real-time information — such as tire temperature, pressure and tread wear — for use in fleet and tire life cycle management. In fact, Michelin already has introduced an aircraft tire using this technology.
Self-Inflating Tires
Goodyear has implemented real-world testing of a sensor/pump combination embedded within the structure of a tire itself, which ultimately could eliminate the need for drivers to manually control tire pressure.