Tyres

03rd January 2008

Here's an electrifying idea. Scientists from Purdue University, Indiana, USA have come up with new tyre technology which uses a current to sense damage to the rubber and can warn drivers of potential defects.

Problems such as cuts, punctures and manufacturing faults can all be recognised before becoming disastrous. Several layers of specially selected rubber have electric signals pulsed through them via an embedded chip.

Changes in the current enable weaknesses in the material to be pinpointed and potential failures to be detected. Race teams are likely to use the technology first, but it will also make it on to road cars’ rubber in future, with the technology adding about £25 to the cost of a normal tyre.

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