Airless, self-sealing and smart: The tire tech on your car now and what’s coming next

Quick question. When’s the last time you thought about your tires? Right. Nobody does, until one goes flat on the freeway at 9 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know. Tires have quietly turned up the tech. Some of it is on your car right now. The next wave sounds like science fiction.

🛞 Already in your driveway

• Pressure sensors: Every new car sold in America since 2007 has to warn you when a tire runs low. It works. NHTSA found cars with direct sensors were 55.6% less likely to be rolling on a badly underinflated tire.
• Self-sealing tires: Michelin, Continental and Pirelli sell tires with a gooey layer inside. Run over a nail, and Michelin says its version plugs most holes up to a quarter inch on the spot.
• Run-flats: These keep going after a puncture. Bridgestone says its version gets you up to 50 miles at up to 50 mph. Goodbye, roadside tire change in your good shoes.
• EV tires: Electric cars are heavy and quick off the line, so the industry’s rule of thumb is about 20% less tread life. EV tires fight back with tougher rubber, plus foam inside that cuts road noise by up to 9 decibels.
• Smart inflators: Cordless pumps let you dial in your PSI and shut off automatically when they hit it. No more guessing at the gas station air machine.

🚀 Rolling your way

• Tires that talk: Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre has a sensor inside that tells the car about grip, temperature and wear. It can even warn of hydroplaning. It’s on supercars like the McLaren Artura and Pagani Utopia, and Pirelli plans to build it in Rome, Ga.
• Tires that read the road: Goodyear’s SightLine tracks tire health and road conditions. Gatik’s self-driving delivery trucks use it, and Goodyear is pitching it to automakers.
• Tires with no air at all: Michelin’s airless Uptis uses flexible spokes instead of air. Delivery vans have logged about 1.9 million miles on them, and Michelin says they last three times longer. The catch? There’s no sale date for your car yet, and they run hot and noisy above 62 mph. (Your commute says hi.)

FYI, smarter tires mean more data leaving your wheels. Researchers recently tracked 20,000 cars, using the ID numbers pressure sensors broadcast. When you shop for your next car, ask how its tire tech protects that data.

My take? The flat tire isn’t dead. But it’s on life support.

I left my position as a tire pump salesman. Couldn’t handle the pressure.

🗣️ Text/post this stat: Michelin’s airless tires have rolled about 1.9 million miles on delivery vans, and Michelin says they last three times longer than regular tires. GetKim.com

📩 Send this to someone who has changed a flat on the shoulder of the highway.