“During normal driving, the shape memory alloy located inside the wheel is compressed into the shape of the letter ‘L’ and does not contact the road surface,” Hyundai says. “When the driver activates the function, an electric current is applied, causing the shape memory alloy to revert to its original profile: the material forms a ‘J’ shape, pushing the module out of the tire to make contact with the surface, improving grip, stability, and safety on snowy roads.”

One added function prevents any alloy spokes from breaking ranks and protruding earlier than their time (resulting from a worn-out tire). If the floor of the tire is worn out, the driving force is signaled to switch it so the automobile would not begin grinding like a Flintstones automotive with a foul tire. Hyundai says the expertise is patent-pending in each South Korea and the U.S., and plans to think about mass improvement after additional testing. While prompt tire chains will probably be a welcome reduction, clearly, it is solely a matter of time earlier than a button causes the tires to shoot out fireplace and soften the ice, or simply hover above it.