More road safety with luminous neothane tires?
In 1958, a very special car was created in the USA, the "Golden Sahara 2", which was presented to the astonished public a year later.
Although the vehicle could not drive completely autonomously , it did have a radar-supported brake to prevent accidents. It was steered with a kind of steering wheel, or alternatively with a joystick, like in an airplane cockpit, with which you could steer, brake and accelerate.
Of course, the cockpit also featured a tube television and telephone.
The tire manufacturer Goodyear developed a luminous, semi-transparent tire to make the car more visible at night and in bad weather. With the right wiring, the tires would also light up when the driver braked.
To produce the tires, colored, liquid rubber was poured into a hot, rotating mold, and the "Neothan tire" was ready.
The "Golden Sahara 2" disappeared at the end of the 1960s and only reappeared a few years ago. Collector Larry Klairmont was able to buy the car at auction and had the concept car restored.
Goodyear saw potential for a marketing stunt here, and produced Neothan tires again, giving the exhibit the appropriate authenticity. In 2019, the "Golden Sahara 2" was made available to the public again and can be admired in the Klairmont Collection in Chicago.
