Geneva, Switzerland — Goodyear displayed a restored Golden Sahara II concept car with illuminated PU tyres at the recent Geneva motor show.
PU glow-in-the-dark tyres return from the 1950s
Cast PU illuminated tyres are impractical for road vehicles, but eye-catching.
The restored car from the late 1950s incorporated a number of sensor-based autonomous driving features. It was based on a 1953 Lincoln Capri.
It featured a number of electronic systems, Goodyear said. These included an aircraft-inspired control lever for acceleration, braking and steering, and an automatic braking system. This used sensors to detect potential objects in the car's path.
Goodyear developed the car's rotational-moulded tires using Neothane, a translucent form of synthetic rubber. They contain internal lighting, which allows them to glow.
The Golden Sahara II surfaced last year. It was snapped up by collector Larry Klairmont, who restored it.
The tyres are relatively heavy, which means the car can only be driven at slow speeds in controlled environments.
The solid tyres are made from cast polyurethane with light strips built into the rim. They weigh around 150lb (68kg) each and contain around 9 US gal (34L) of polyurethane.
Mark Vaughn of Autoweek contributed to this article, which appeared in Rubber & Plastics News.
The restored Golden Sahara II
