04/01/2008, 1:52 PM
Industry/General
James Bond tech for the road: Q Tires develops retractable-stud snow tire
The yearly ritual of swapping out summer tires for studded winter tires can grow quite tiresome for those who reside in snowy Northern United States. Not only that, but studded winter tires can wreak havoc on the local roadways. But one company has developed a James Bond-esque solution to solve both problems.
Q Tires has developed a snow tire that actually uses retractable studs. By flipping a switch inside the vehicle, drivers can activate or retract the studs, depending on road conditions.
The system works by filling a secondary chamber within the tire, which in turn activates the studs. Releasing the pressure retracts the studs. The ability to retract the studs would mean that drivers could use the tires year round. In fact, many states have already amended their studded tire laws to accommodate the revolutionary design.
The system does deplete some of the tire’s air pressure, but company head Michael O’Brien says it would take about 30 uses to really deplete any kind of significant pressure.
According to The Detroit News, Q Tires isn’t affiliated with any of the large tire manufacturers and will begin real-world testing of its retractable-stud snow tire later this year.
04/01, 1:57 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Oh would that be sweet. It sure would save those of us that use snow and summer performance tires money and a lot of time. Although I’m sure these are going to be pretty pricey when they first come out.
04/01, 2:15 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
CaCaLover has one of these pressure inflation pumps installed in his underwear when he heads out and night to the “designer bars” in West Hollywood.
04/01, 2:16 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
Pretty awesome gadget but I was always partial to oil slick =)
04/01, 2:17 PM
posted by:
shaver
Good idea but ultimately Id like a tire that will be studded in morning, then not studded in afternoon when its thawed out. So I would be way more interested if the studs could be activated countless times. I dont mind having two sets of tires, but 2/3 of time in winter I have the studs on I dont need them.
04/01, 2:21 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Shaver, you can activate them a bunch of times but you need to periodically reinflate.
04/01, 3:18 PM
posted by:
Andrewthecarguy
The future is here…this is exciting…can’t wait to see it in action and use it myself.
04/01, 5:36 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
Well, having to stop and inflate the tires every once in a while sure is a hell of a lot better and easier to do than putting on a different set every winter.
04/01, 5:45 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
They now need to turn their attention to developing breast implants with retractable nipples.
04/01, 5:58 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
This sure sounds like an April Fools prank to me…
04/01, 6:11 PM
posted by:
LaCaLover
injunraiv The Q Tires web site looked pretty genuine to me, but, of course, it could all be part of a much wider conspiracy
04/01, 8:35 PM
posted by:
A4
can anyone say $800 a tire
04/02, 1:15 AM
posted by:
bigp
nice
04/02, 3:00 AM
posted by:
Veda
Yea, how much?
04/02, 6:31 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
Used in Die Another Day on the Vanish…
04/02, 9:24 AM
posted by:
E60M5
cool. can i have the two little guns that pop out of the front???
04/02, 6:16 PM
posted by:
El Aleman
Pretty sure this is an April fool’s joke..
The whole government already adapting it gives it away, apart from the name “Q tire”..