Goodyear said that this tire could be applied in the earth but it has no plans in that direction. And Spring Tire is not the only tech tire without air target mission to the moon. Wheel-based Lunar Tweel from Michelin is also being evaluated by NASA for missions to the moon in the future. SOME years ago, the U.S. space agency NASA began work on a project together with the development of new Goodyear tires. the modern tire's version is named by 'Spring Tire'.
This tire is made of the load bearing spring 800 mounted on the shaft of six metal bars. The springs can be adapted to the varied terrain on the planet so it can roll without making the vehicle shakes excessively.
Because the strands of springs are able to adjust to the contours permukaanjalan and return to forms after the first pass. Goodyear also claims that the Spring Tire
with NASA's creation does not generate heat like other tires when operated.
Tires are made of 800 load bearing springs are designed to carry vehicles with a weight 10 times more weight with durability 100 times the distance that can be achieved that the wire mesh used tires by Goodyear when developing Apollo lunar roving vehicle cruising Vehicle (LRV).
Tire development is based on the fact that ordinary pneumatic rubber tires are not suitable for the lunar surface. Tire rubber has properties very susceptible to temperature extremes. While on the moon, among the areas hit by the sunlight does not have a super extreme temperature differences.
Direct radiation of sunlight is also made of rubber strength rapidly shrinking. Not to mention that the tire has lost air pressure alias deflated. Though there will certainly not be found plumbers tires. Adding a spare tire is also not a wise decision because it will only add to the burden of the charge.
"We needed to make fundamental changes in the tire that will explore the lunar surface, with a combination of an increase in the ability to load and service life," said Vivake Asnani, principal investigator for the project Researh Center NASA Glenn in Cleveland.
"What was developed by the Goodyear-NASA team is a simple network of interwoven springs are arranged in such a way that can serve as a substitute bankaret. Design of the tire itself refers to previous experience."
Spring Tire itself was mounted on the Lunar Electric Rover test vehicle in the past year carried out in 'Rock Yard' at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Goodyear claims that the tire spring field test was successfully passed.
"Tires are very powerful and highly energy efficient," explains Jim Benzing as the head of Goodyear's innovation projects. "The design of the contour of the spring against the surface to create good traction. And all the energy used to change the shape of the tire will be returned when the spring back into shape. Process does not generate heat in the tires as usual," he added.
When comes to the crunch, the conventional tire will leak, while the Spring Tire only cause damage to one part of the 800 load bearing springs so the tires can still be used normally.
In addition, continued Asnani, Spring Tire has a combination of rigidity and flexibility that allows off-road vehicle running quickly over a rough surface with a relatively small shocks because the tire is able to follow the contours of the road and absorb shock better than conventional tires.
