Mercedes-Benz’s Vision AVTR concept vehicle pushes the boundaries of automotive imagination, and its tyre and wheel system is no exception. Drawing inspiration from the seeds of the Tree of Souls in the film Avatar, this design blends nature, advanced mobility, and sustainability into a bold concept.
The wheels appear to have grown organically from the vehicle. Each consists of six sculpted segments highlighted with soft blue light strips, merging tread, rim, and lighting into a single living-like structure. The look is rooted in biomimicry – using shapes and movement seen in nature – to create something visually unique and technically ambitious.
The Vision AVTR’s tyres are made from polyurethane, reinforcing the concept’s commitment to sustainable materials. More than 900 LEDs per wheel illuminate the segments and rim arms, allowing the vehicle to visually interact with its surroundings. These dynamic light effects go beyond appearance, hinting at future forms of non-verbal communication between vehicle and environment.
What sets the Vision AVTR’s tyre system apart is its nearly spherical shape. Each wheel can rotate independently by up to 30 degrees, allowing the vehicle to move not only forwards and backwards, but also diagonally or sideways. Mercedes-Benz refers to this as “crab movement.” It’s enabled by near-wheel electric motors and torque vectoring – technology that gives each wheel its own source of power and control.
This layout results in a vehicle with extreme agility and a tight turning circle – though as a concept, the overall ride is stiff due to the rigid construction and limited suspension movement.
The wheel covers serve more than aesthetic function. They integrate the LED elements and help maintain the smooth, organic form, capping the spherical structure with precision. Although this vehicle isn’t production-bound, the design approach highlights what might be possible in future electric and autonomous platforms, where conventional packaging and performance rules can be rethought.
From the materials used to the overall concept, the tyre and wheel system supports a broader zero-emission, circular economy vision. The emphasis on recyclable materials and non-traditional design reflects how future vehicles might depart from decades of standard automotive thinking.
While the Vision AVTR won’t reach showrooms, its tyre concept shows how designers and engineers might one day reinvent tyres not just for performance, but as platforms for sustainability, expression, and new types of movement.
FeatureDescriptionInspirationSeeds of the Tree of Souls from AvatarMaterialPolyurethane (tyres), illuminated rose gold rim armsShapeAlmost spherical with six organic segmentsMovement30° independent rotation enables diagonal and sideways motionLighting945 LEDs per wheel for dynamic lighting effectsSustainabilityRecyclable materials, zero-emission conceptFunctionalityAgile handling, small turning circle, reduced ride comfort due to rigid build.
What type of tyres does the Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR use?
The Vision AVTR concept uses polyurethane tyres designed with a spherical profile. These futuristic tyres are part of a unique mobility concept focused on sustainability and multi-directional movement.
What makes the Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR tyres different from traditional car tyres?
Unlike conventional tyres, the Vision AVTR’s tyres are nearly spherical and integrated with six segmented tread zones and illuminated rim structures. This allows the vehicle to move in any direction, including sideways – something traditional tyre designs cannot do.
How do the tyres enable crab-like sideways movement in the Vision AVTR?
Each of the four wheels can rotate up to 30 degrees independently, thanks to near-wheel electric motors and advanced torque vectoring. This enables the Vision AVTR’s signature “crab movement”, where the vehicle can move diagonally or sideways using tyre rotation alone.
Are the tyres on the Vision AVTR made from sustainable materials?
Yes. The tyres are made from polyurethane, a recyclable material that supports the Vision AVTR’s commitment to a circular economy and zero-emission design. This aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s long-term sustainability goals.
How many LEDs are integrated into each Vision AVTR wheel?
Each wheel contains 945 LEDs embedded within the rose gold rim arms and tyre segments. These LEDs create dynamic lighting effects and visual communication, making the wheels appear alive and reactive to the environment.
Can the Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR tyres be used on road cars?
Currently, no. The Vision AVTR is a concept vehicle, and its tyre and wheel system is designed for visual and experimental purposes. While the technology is not road-ready, it showcases potential future directions for advanced tyre systems in electric and autonomous vehicles.
What is the purpose of the illuminated wheels on the Vision AVTR?
The illuminated wheels serve multiple functions: enhancing the vehicle’s biomorphic design, enabling communication through light, and reinforcing the concept’s futuristic aesthetic. The lighting technology also hints at how future tyres could interact with surroundings and other vehicles.
Is the Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR tyre design practical for everyday driving?
The tyre design prioritises innovation and agility over comfort. The rigid build and minimal suspension travel result in a stiffer ride, which limits practicality in current road conditions. Its main purpose is to explore what tyre technology might look like in future mobility concepts.
Why did Mercedes-Benz design spherical tyres for the Vision AVTR?
Spherical tyres offer unmatched manoeuvrability. By reducing the contact patch and enabling full directional freedom, these tyres allow the Vision AVTR to perform agile movements like lateral shifts, tight turns, and diagonal motion – capabilities aimed at future urban mobility.
What is the significance of tyre technology in the Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR?
The tyre technology is central to the Vision AVTR’s concept. It symbolises a merger between advanced vehicle engineering and natural inspiration, aiming to redefine how tyres can influence movement, sustainability, and design in the electric vehicle era.
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