Tyres Filled With Foam

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32028, 1 July 1969, Page 13

Tyres Filled With Foam

Air as a means of inflat- . Ing tyres may be on the way out. Scientists of the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, are conducting tests which may result in tyres which will never go flat, even when hit by bullets.

The tests involve the use of a special rubber foam instead of air to inflate the tyres. The foaming material, mixed with special chemicals, is placed inside the tyre casing. Under heat the foam expands into a dense spongelike substance which fills the casing. The coarse-textured resilient foam in the tyre is a durable organic rubber polymer which maintains good ride and handling characteristics.

So far the use of the foam is still in the advanced testing stage, but the system could be used initially for military and off-the-road vehicles. Not until company engineers solve heat built-up

and weight problems will the foam inflation system be practicable for passenger cars. In tests so far, engineers have drilled holes in foamfilled tyres, fired bullets Into them, slashed them, and driven them over spikes. The tyres still worked.

The tests have involved the use of the tyres on many types of heavy and industrial vehicles as well as on cars, and the tyres have been used at speeds of up to 80 m.p.h. It was found that tread wear was not affected by foam inflation.

The engineers say that a foam-inflated tyre will cost much more than an ordinary tyre, but the system should prove worth while where there are many puncture hazards.

Since pneumatic tyres were invented, scores of materials have been proposed to replace air as a medium of inflation, but until now none have been successful. Materials tried have included cork, wood, sand, coil-springs, rubber balls, powdered aluminium and sawdust Do It Yourself Time and time again drivers come to me and complain of road features they consider dangerous or deceptive. Quite often they have some sound ideas for improving the particular feature they complain about, but their usual cry is: “Why doesn’t somebody do something about it?" Few of them, I find, have thought of doing anything about it themselves —in fact, few seem aware that it is possible for them to do something. What To Do The ordinary motorist can do quite a lot in such circumstances. He can write about the problem that conearns him, with any sensible suggestions, to the Ministry of Transport, the Automobile Association, the Metropolitan Road Safety Committee care of the Ministry of Transport, or the controlling local body. All these organisations want to know if there is a dangerous feature on any road, and all are quite happy to give serious consideration to any complaints, and to have a look at the cause of the complaint and study any possible remedies. Make the Effort It comes back to what I have said several times be-