Translucent Goodyear tyres unveiled at Geneva motor show
KUALA LUMPUR: Goodyear and Klairmont Kollections recently unveiled the restored Golden Sahara II car on translucent Goodyear tyres at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show.
According to a press statement, the iconic custom car of the 1950s and 60s was one of the first concepts of autonomous vehicles and fitted with glowing, see-through tyres that were custom developed by Goodyear.
“Developed by Jim Street and legendary custom car designer George Barris, the Golden Sahara II was a platform for testing new electronic systems.
“It featured a control system with an aircraft-inspired control lever for acceleration, braking and steering and an automatic braking system that used sensors to detect potential objects in the car’s path,” the statement added.
The car’s tyres were developed by Goodyear using a translucent form of synthetic rubber called Neothane and contained internal lighting which allowed them to glow.
“This was part of a broader research by Goodyear into the feasibility of tyres that could help improve visibility in bad weather conditions or be wired to light up when a driver hit the brakes,” according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the recently restored car was used to tour the United States and featured on television shows as well as in fi lms.
“It then sat in a garage for the best part of 50 years until Klairmont Kollections purchased the vehicle from Mecum Auctions in May 2018”.
The Golden Sahara II was restored with the help of Speakeasy Customs and Classics located in Chicago, Illinois.
More information on Goodyear and its products are available at www.goodyear.com/corporate.