I know, I know, it's summer and I'm writing about snow. But hear me out. Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler, has recently filed a patent on a new technology that could make driving in snowy and icy conditions much safer. They submitted the following diagram describing the new technology.
The diagram shows an innovative system that improves traction by spraying hot water on tires in order to melt snow and ice that may have built up in the tires tread. The water is pumped out of a small tank and through a heat exchanger, therefore making it hot enough to melt snow and ice. It is sprayed directly onto the spinning tire through three small nozzles that have been integrated into the wheel well. The system was designed to collect water that drips down the rear window from multiple sources; a car wash, rain water or melting snow. While melting snow and ice is the main technology, there is theory that the water can be used to cool hot tires, either in the summer or on the track. Daimler is well aware of that possibility, but that would mean an integration of a thermal imaging system in order to monitor the temperature of each tire, when to spray, and how much would be needed for it to properly to its job.
The patent doesn't guarantee that the next C-Class will be equipped with this tire-spraying technology. At this point, it's only an idea from Mercedes engineers and they don't know if, let alone when, this system will make it to a production vehicle. If it is approved for production, you can look for the system to appear on a top-rung model like the S-Class.
