Bridgestone shows multi-chamber tyre at Geneva

Brussels - Bridgestone Corp. announced this week the development of a multi-chamber tyre which has three separate chambers acting as pressure vessels. A main chamber acts as a normal tyre, and two side chambers act as self-supporting sidewalls, but using air pressure rather than reinforced ruber to provide support.

Bridgestone said the all-new type of tyre contour was born from extensive R&D efforts with a view to the future of tyres. The air pressure in each of the chambers can be controlled independently, making it possible to adjust the stiffness balance between the tread area and the left and right sidewalls. This ensures ideal contact in any condition, and thus, a more stable and comfortable drive. It also means performance can be adjusted in line with customer needs such as comfort or maneuverability.

The new design requires a special rim and has four bead wires, rather than the conventional two.