AKRON, Ohio — Goodyear Tire says it’s busy working on a self-inflating tire with the help of the U.S. government.

Thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology will enable tires to remain inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics, the company says.

All components of the system, including the 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," said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear senior vice president and chief technical officer.

There’s no world when the system could be available commercially, but the tire maker said the timetable would be accelerated due to recent government research grants in United States and Europe.