This video on the future of racing — based on concept tires designed by Hankook Tire and the University of Pforzheim, Germany — is pretty goddamn fun. I don’t know if we’ll ever get to this point (seeing the evolution of racing since the time of Roman Empire, I wouldn’t be surprised) but it’s great to watch.
They came up with three types of tires which seems to be influenced by climate change: Boostrac, Alpike and HyBlade for desertification, heavy snow and heavy rain.
Boostrac boasts hexagonal tread blocks that can transform into an expanded mode for intensified traction — especially on steep and rough conditions such as desert and mountain roads.
Alpike, along with the studs and gaps, is designed with a tyre circumferential expansion mode, which increases vehicle ground clearance, making it optimal for heavy snow.
HyBlade is designed to provide the ideal solution for heavy rain. It’s equipped with ‘waterwheel’ tread and side spokes that create driving and steering force in heavy rain.