July 5, 2019—Michelin now has a model of tire that's lined with a viscous material that seals a puncture hole automatically.
Ford is advertising the tires that will come on certain models of the new Explorer, reports the Detroit Free Press.
In the event of a small puncture (up to a quarter inch) to the tread area, the "goo" flows into the hole and seals it.
“When the sealant works as designed, most drivers never know it’s working. There is no pressure loss, and odds are the driver doesn’t see the object in the tire or it’s fallen out,” Woody Rogers, Tire Rack's director of tire information, told the Free Press.
The material was designed to flow into punctures but not pool at the bottom when the vehicle is stationary. A driver could potentially drive for days before noticing the gradual pressure loss.
Michelin hopes they prove to be a better choice than run-flat tires, which are stiffer for driving.
