Self-inflating tyres coming

The weekly ritual of pumping up your car’s tyres could soon be left redundant thanks to a new invention which does it for you – on the move

Auto Express Car Reviews

Set-up monitors pressure, and feeds stream of air into rubber via a modified axle design

10th July 2007

Scientists at US company MAXAIR have developed a hi-tech system that continually checks rubber and inflates it if needed. Using technology it already supplies to HGV manufacturers, the firm has created the Automatic Tyre Monitoring and Inflation (ATMI) set-up, which features an on-board compressor to independently watch and vary inflation levels.

If it senses a puncture, the device sends a constant stream of air to the affected rim, until a repair can be made. And the manufacturer says motorists will save money, too, as correct pressures are always maintained, which means fuel consumption is reduced by up to three per cent and tyres will last longer.

The ATMI unit is still a prototype, but MAXAIR is talking to car makers about putting it into production.