Time Magazine has recently named Goodyear’s Eagle-360 concept tyre one of its “Best Inventions of the Year 2016”, which is an annual list created by the magazine’s Technology editors.
This year’s list of the “best inventions that are making the world better, smarter and—in some cases—a little more fun” includes 25 inventions. In addition to Goodyear’s Eagle-360 concept tyre, the list also includes a virtual reality headset, shoes that lace themselves, a solar roof collaboration between Tesla and SolarCity, and the Chevy Bolt electric vehicle.
“By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tyres will play an even more important role as the primary link to the road,” said Goodyear’s Chief Technical Officer Joe Zekoski.
“Goodyear’s concept tyres play a dual role in that future both as creative platforms to push the boundaries of conventional thinking and testbeds for next-generation technologies.”
The Goodyear Eagle-360 is a spherical-shaped design concept tyre that would provide self-driving cars ultimate maneuverability, connectivity and biomimicry to increase safety in different terrains and weather conditions.
“Although the Eagle-360 is a future concept, it represents an essential aspect of Goodyear’s innovation strategy and our vision for smart and safe mobility,”Zekoski added.