Temperature-sensitive concept tire designed to change colour

ERJ staff report (TP)

Toronto, Canada − What if you could see cold before you stepped outside and felt it? Canadian Tire is partnering with leading rubber Research & Development organisation, ARTIS, to develop a temperature-sensitive, colour-change all-season concept tire, reported The Wall Street Journal.

The concept tire is designed with a white rubber sidewall strip that, using a thermochromic formulation, changes colour from white to a vivid blue at 7°C; the point at which you should consider changing to winter tires.

Commissioned by Canadian Tire, development of the concept tire was led by Dr Joe Hallett of ARTIS, an independent organisation based in the UK that specializes in the testing, analysis, development and recycling of rubber materials.

"Our team at ARTIS took a particular interest in this project as it presented an idea we believe no one had considered before Canadian Tire," stated Dr Hallett. "Through an extensive Research & Development process, we have created a concept that could help to change our thinking."

Canadian Tire Corporation was founded in 1922 and its retail operations include Canadian Tire, the core retail and automotive service operation, Canadian Tire Petroleum.

ARTIS was launched as an independent testing laboratory in 2007 and is based in Wiltshire, UK.

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Full story from The Wall Street Journal

Video on the development of the concept tire