Register now  |  Forgotten password?

A tyre that inflates itself

ShareThis

Crowdfunding website Kickstarter has already revealed some interesting cycling projects as inventors look to turn their dreams into reality. We have featured a couple of Kickstarter projects (YouTurn, Flipphandle) before on Going Going Bike, though today’s invention, the PumpTire, has us the most intrigued of all.

The PumpTire is a self-inflating bicycle tyre that inflates air into a tyre while you ride the bike. It does this by incorporating a pumping mechanism directly into the tyre.

How it works

The self inflation of the PumpTire works by drawing air through a one way protruding valve that is attached to tyre. Instead of the air going into the inner tube, the air is directed into a thin tube, called a lumen, which runs around outside of the tyre.

As the wheels turns, the air inside the lumen is compressed, forcing the air out into the inner tube. Unlike traditional tyres, the PumpTire inner tube clips into the tire to enable air to pass from the tire to the tube. The resulting absence of air in the lumen creates a vacuum effect, drawing more air in through the first valve. The system automatically shuts the valve when the desired tyre pressure is reached.

Valve system

The valve system, which draws the air from the atmosphere, screws into the valve stem on the inner tube. The valve technology is a custom design that allows air to enter the tyre before being pushed into the tube.

Prototypes

The inventors, have so far made prototypes of the PumpTire in two varieties; the City Pro—a 700c x 28mm tyre with a max 100 psi, and the City Cruiser— a 26″ x 1.5″ tyre with a maximum 65 psi.

Funding

If they can raise enough cash they plan to go into production with these two tyres. So far they have raised $3,369 out of a 250,000 goal. The tyres if they go into full production will not be cheap though - US$ 129 for the city version and $US 149 for the City Pro.

Learn more about the PumpTire project here.

See also

Buying a bike that fits a woman

Join the fun of the Stoke Tour Ride and win a replica jersey

from Going Going Bike - Auctions, Bike News, Cycle Stuff

Grab the GGB Weekly Newsletter

and we will send you our second hand bike buying guide.