David Williams: Healing touch of Michelin

As a demonstration of the latest tyre tech it was slightly underwhelming, although highly instructive. I was told to drive a perfectly good car over a row of vicious three-inch spikes.

Then, said the Michelin Man at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum future technology conference in Chengdu, China, I should go for a brisk drive to see what happened. Nothing at all happened, thanks to the firm’s new Selfseal tyre which, even when badly “holed”, can be driven safely at speed, without adverse effects.

The tyre firm hasn’t yet confirmed prices for its new product but it goes on sale in 2015. Selfseal uses a rubber-based compound inside the tyre, that permanently plugs holes.

It lets motorists continue driving indefinitely, without the tyre losing pressure and will be offered across a number of the firm’s lines.