Michelin confirmed in this month's SAE magazine one of the widest tire research: a tire that changes tread design based on the weather !
An adaptation of electroadaptive plastics, that is, plastic materials that react to changes in voltage to change volume or shape. The tire changes from a huigh ridge around the middle of the circumference for dry weather and very high mpg (like having 50 psi) to sunken center and perphiral grooves to drain away water in rainy weather, to flat tread (slicks) with no grooves for high performance in dry weather. Wild. Michelin apparently is co=opting with GM and other companies on this project. While any useful practical application is probably years away the idea of seeing F1 playing with this is awesome.

 

Do they make it in 205/50-15? JFWY Thats really cool, and it would make sense that F1 would play with it, they're the only ones with that kind of money!