Underinflated tires may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to Goodyear technology.

The company’s Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) is now being developed at Goodyear Innovation Centers in Akron and Luxembourg. It will enable tires to remain properly inflated on their own, without the need for any external pumps or electronics. And the components of the AMT system - including a miniaturized pump - will be fully contained within the tire.

“While the technology is complex, the idea behind the AMT system is relatively simple and powered by the tire itself as it rolls down the road,” according to Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear senior vice president and chief technical officer. “A tire that can maintain its own inflation is something drivers have wanted for many years. Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging. This will become the kind of technological breakthrough that people will wonder how they ever lived without.”

Goodyear did not specify when this technology would be available, but said the timetable would be accelerated due to recent government research grants in both the U.S. and Europe.

Tires that inflate themselves would eliminate the driver’s need to check air pressure once a month. The technology would lead to real savings as well. Underinflated tires result in a 2.5% to 3.3% decrease in fuel mileage. At today’s gas prices, that translates to about 12 cents per gallon at the pump. Properly inflated tires also help to lower emissions, increase tire service life, and enhance safety and vehicle performance.