April 3, 2008

If you’re fed up with having to pump up your tyres every time you put petrol then the Self Inflating Tyre (SIT), could be just the thing for you. 

Using the principal of a ‘peristaltic pump’ the tyre contains a thin rubber tube which uses the rolling effect of the wheel to constantly top up the tyre pressure.  The system is fitted with a valve to ensure that the tyre doesn’t become over inflated.

The tyre is fitted with a tube that essentially chases air round the rim of the tyre and feeds it into the tyre itself. 

Tyres that are not adequately inflated are less efficient both in terms of giving grip and transmitting power to the road.  20% under-inflation will result in 16% extra tyre wear and an extra 6% of fuel use, not especially sensible with the current fuel costs.

The tyre isn’t puncture proof, but if the tyre had a puncture it would re-inflate as long as you were still driving.  So, in theory, as long as the puncture wasn’t too big and you could keep on going the tyre wouldn’t go down.  It would only deflate when you stopped.  Didn’t they make a film along those lines?  “We can’t stop the bus, we’ve got a puncture!”

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