U.S. researchers have unveiled an experimental tire that can actually sense damage and warn drivers of a potential flat, according to Reuters life.

Manufacturers already make tires that warn drivers when their tire pressure is too low, but this latest advance in “smart” car technology turns a regular tire into a type of sensor, detecting problems such as cuts, punctures, manufacturing defects, imbalance, degradation and improper mounting as well.

The researchers, from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, say they’ve developed a sensing system that can pick up distinct electrical signals in the tire layers, detecting changes that could lead to a flat or reduce wear, such as uneven air pressure.

“What we have is a multilayer of different materials on the entire tire with different electrical properties. That allows us to then measure anywhere in the tire,” said Gary Krutz, director of Purdue’s Electrohydraulic Center and a professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

“The whole thing is like a doughnut,” Krutz said. “If you poke it anywhere, like with a nail, we can tell you where it is at and that you poked it.”

The tires are made of specially selected rubber and special chip inside the tire would probe the different layers and quickly relay safety information to the driver, Reuters said.

Krutz’s team had already made a hydraulic hose that would warn of failure and was working on the technology for use in orthopedic devices to detect wear and tear on artificial hips and knees.

So far, the Purdue lab has built 24 tires. Krutz said the technology would cost manufacturers about $1 per tire, translating into approximately $50 per tire for consumers, Reuters said.