Tires from the Moon? NASA & Goodyear's Space Tech That Changed Driving Forever

A Moon Mission Collaboration

The real story begins with NASA’s need to design a vehicle that could traverse the Moon’s hostile and unpredictable surface. For this, NASA partnered with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to develop tires for the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV)—commonly known as the Moon buggy.

Unlike traditional rubber tires, the LRV wheels had to withstand extremes of temperature, abrasive dust, and rocky terrain without any chance of repair. Goodyear’s solution? A mesh wire design made of zinc-coated piano wire, providing flexibility, strength, and durability without air.

This was not the invention of the tire but a specialized adaptation of tire engineering to fit lunar needs. It marked a redirection of engineering principles, not the invention of a new concept.

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Why It Was Developed: Surviving the Moon’s Harsh Terrain

On the Moon, there is no atmosphere, no roads, and no opportunity for a tire change. The LRV had to function flawlessly in gravity one-sixth of Earth’s, over sharp rocks and deep dust, and in temperatures ranging from -280°F to +260°F.

The Legacy: Everyday Benefits on Earth

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