Self inflating tires - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

ai_vin · 03-07-2009, 11:35 AM

I don't know if you guys have seen this before but-
SIT | Self Inflating Tire

IMHO this can't get to market fast enough! Not only would it keep the tire pressure on the average car maintained at the proper level but it has applications in aerodynamics too.

Think about it; if you don't need to access your tires, to check pressure or repair every lttle puncture, and your tires last longer because they're always at the right presure, then you can apply fairings without compromise to those needs.

shovel · 03-07-2009, 12:34 PM

but these tires *will* cost more... and anyone attentive enough to care enough to pay extra $$ for tires, is also the kind of person attentive enough to perform the ridiculously simple act of keeping their tires inflated.

A much better solution would be to integrate the drivers' seat into the existing tire pressure monitoring system that was mandated for cars, so that if for example 5 driving cycles occur greater than a mile or two with seriously low tire pressure, it just reaches up through the seat cushion and spays/neuters the driver so they can't make more inattentive, dangerous offspring.

jamesqf · 03-07-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ai_vin

Not only would it keep the tire pressure on the average car maintained at the proper level...

Would it? Or would it keep the tire at the car manufacturer's specified pressure, which as we all should know is set 10-20 psi too low in order to give the squishy ride feel that they believe is "comfortable"? And worse, if I understand the little technical info at the link, it'd take away any chance of inflating them to a proper pressure.

ai_vin · 03-07-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Would it? Or would it keep the tire at the car manufacturer's specified pressure, which as we all should know is set 10-20 psi too low in order to give the squishy ride feel that they believe is "comfortable"?

No, the owner/driver sets/adjusts the pressure; it comes in manual or electronic versions. If you go with the electronic version I don't see why you shouldn't be able to change the pressure while in motion. In fact it says so in the PDF.

And as for increasing the cost of the tire? They are testing two systems; one fitted in the tire and one in the rim.