Goodyear has developed self-inflating tire technology intended to keep commercial truck tires at the proper pressure, with the end result saving fuel and reducing tread wear. The system, which Goodyear calls Air Maintenance Technology, automatically keeps tires inflated without the need for electronic controls or external pumps. This is drastically different than the Michelin Tweel. The Tweel is a combined wheel-tire assembly that required no air. Great idea but, at this time not practical for every day driving, the Tweel created too much noise and vibration above 50 MPH to be marketable to the driving public. These tires won’t see the general market for a while – but airless or self-inflating tires are in our future.
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