When you only have one-sixth the gravity you’re accustomed to, you need a tyre that makes good contact with the surface. This is why Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota Motor Corporation have asked Bridgestone to contribute its expertise to their new joint project. The tyre maker will draw upon its knowledge of tyre contact patches and develop an elastic wheel that will support the weight, acceleration and braking of the lunar rover that JAXA and Toyota intend to build.