Adaptive Tyres

I have noticed that racing cars use different tyres depending on the race conditions. Choice of tyre varies according to the ambient temperature and whether the track surface is wet or dry. By contrast most car owners possess one set of tyres for all their motoring needs.

I propose a set of 'adaptive tyres' that respond dynamically to road conditions. Each tyre would consist of a mozaic of compounds with different properties.

For example, the tread pattern only becomes visible, when wet. This could be achieved using a tyre compounds that swells when wet, distorting the rest of the tyre to form grooves. In cold conditions a different compound forms 'goosebumps' enabling the tyre to grip more firmly in the snow.

The definitive example would be a tyre compound that becomes slightly softer in response to high shear forces, dynamically improving grip when entering into corners.