Scanning for Ideas: Self-Repairing Truck Tires
The Unisteel G316 LHT line of line-haul trailer tires from
The Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Co. (
goodyear.com), use Duraseal technology to let
tires punctured in the tread repair themselves.
(Half the tires sold in the
U.S. are long-haul trailer tires.) The tires have a gel-like, nonflammable,
solvent-free rubber compound built into the tire’s inner liner. The gel
flows into voids and around objects less than 0.25 in. in diameter, and
will do this repeatedly, letting it take care of dozens of punctures. The
repair gel’s yellow color highlights punctures, making them easier to
see. The tires also feature four all-steel belts, which gives the tires a solid
foundation for several retreadings.