http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/ Autoblog Comments for http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
looking across industries to see how technologies can be applied to different markets. now that's pretty smart.

]]>Feb 27th 2008 4:34PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
Is the "managing valve" built into the tire adjustable? If I want adjust my car's handling by adding a few extra psi in just the rear tires, how do I do that? If I try to add it manually, it seems the managing valve will simply release the excess pressure.

If the managing valve fails - and the tire still has plenty of tread - can it be fixed/replaced independently of the rest of the tire? If not, it would seem that the managing valve could be a significant single source of failure.

I like the approach. I've often though that current TPMS sensors should, in similar fashion, be motion powered instead of battery powered.

Now if they can get this to work for the spare tire...]]>Feb 27th 2008 4:42PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/A system also ads rolling resistance and weight to the tire/wheel package. ]]>Feb 27th 2008 4:54PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
Of course in the US, the gov't would have final say over your settings, to ensure safety and optimal economy.
]]>Feb 28th 2008 12:01AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
My Czech's in the mail...]]>Feb 27th 2008 4:51PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 27th 2008 4:56PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 27th 2008 5:18PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 27th 2008 5:23PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 27th 2008 5:24PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 27th 2008 5:29PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
Maybe not as much as this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr8eEWyKQHM
But you get where I'm going with this.

I don't doubt they've probably thought of this already, I'm just curious as to what they've come up with.

Matto :)]]>Feb 27th 2008 6:12PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 27th 2008 7:05PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 27th 2008 7:11PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
1. It seems like there would be a lot of extra rolling resistance and wasted pumping that doesn't need to take place (once the tire is up to pressure... unless the pump stops when the release valve reaches the target pressure).

2. Water. Won't this pump put water in your tires during the rainy season?

3. It seems like you can't do proper front-back pressure adjustment to compensate for vehicle weight distribution and the different size contact patches it creates (unless you could adjust the pressure release valves - of course they would tell you to only have a professional do it - just like headlight alignment even though I've seen the pros screw it up just as often as DIYers). The pressure on your door sticker is the minimum. The pressure on the sidewall is the maximum. Neither are the optimum. Most front-heavy cars need some extra pressure up front.]]>Feb 27th 2008 8:02PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
I like your point 3!

The pressure on your door sticker is the minimum. The pressure on the sidewall is the maximum. Neither are the optimum.

All these years Ive been going stir crazy, so I usually try to keep pressure at the MAX hoping for better mileage & handling.

If this product can handle -60C in the winter with the Eskimos, Im sold.

Think of the domino effects of benefits:

1. Better mileage
2. Better handling
3. Safety
4. Tire Longevity
5. Shorter stopping distances
6. Emergency manouveres]]>Feb 27th 2008 10:00PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
If you change tire brand or wheel size, you may need to adjust from the factory recommendations as well. The best way to gage appropriate pressure is to use factory specs and if you find more wear at the inner and outer edges of the tire, you need more pressure. If the center has more wear, you need less pressure. A tread depth gage can help you detect this before the wear becomes harmful. I should know, I worked as a tire tech for Goodyear and America's Tire Co.]]>Feb 28th 2008 1:24AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 28th 2008 8:51AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/
I've even filled a tire from 30 to 60 PSI (was a skinny spare, though) using just the tire hand pump. It took a few minutes, sure, but it was free and didn't require some machine that eats electricity or other fuel. ]]>Feb 27th 2008 9:56PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 28th 2008 7:02PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/Feb 28th 2008 7:08PM