New Tire Concepts

Lawrence · Sep 14, 2006

Interesting read...

Radical new tire design by Michelin.

The next generation of tires.

They had a pair at the Philadelphia car show.

These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon.

The bad news for law enforcement is that spike strips will not work on these tires.

This is what great R&D will do ... and just think of the impact on existing technology:

a... no more air valves
b... no more air compressors at gas stations
c... no more repair kits
d... no more calls from the little woman to come change her flat tire

SCAN DOWN & SEE.

These are actual pictures taken in the South Carolina plant of Michelin. It will be awhile before they are available to the automotive industry.

greg334 · Sep 14, 2006

That's Cool!

RichM · Sep 14, 2006

Something tells me one of those guys will cost about $1K.Wonder how long they last and can they be recapped.

Broompilot · Sep 15, 2006

Stay out of the Mudd...

Paul56 · Sep 15, 2006

This isn't practical for a number of reasons:

They don't look the best; therefore, the automotive manufacturers will never install them as standard equipment.

As someone else previously mentioned, they will get clogged up with mud. Not only that, but snow and ice as well.

Too easy for pranksters to play tricks with.

I like the concept a lot, but this prototype needs a little more work to become practical.

greg334 · Sep 15, 2006

>They don't look the best; therefore, the automotive
>manufacturers will never install them as standard equipment.

I don't agree, if the tire manufacturers decide to produce this product, all they have to do is stop selling the OEM/replacement tire air and there you go, you have no choice but buy the new designed tires.

Old tire -
No air = flat tire

New tire
No air â‰ flat tire

Turtle · Sep 15, 2006

I have a feeling that these are the prototypes that have the sidewalls removed so you can see what they're all about. Here's the Michelin press release on the new Tweel.
http://www.michelinman.com/difference/releases/pressrelease01102005a.html

simon says · Sep 19, 2006

Question for Lawrence: normal tire concepts: 11R22.5 or 295/75R22.5? Cummins likes my setup with low pro for the ISC/ISL. I'm upgrading to a 42 Plate and when I get new drives, I would like to raise the vehicle up some (#####, low Pete, low-air leaf). I have a 4.1, .74 final,= 1683 at 65. 11R's at 495-497 revs would bring that down to 1626, but I lose some gradeability. Cummins likes the low-pros for doing 1400 minimum at 55, which the 11R's can't attain (1376).
Think I should ignore Cummins, even with the slight loss of gradeability? Am I just getting too deep in this?

Twin Pop USA · Sep 21, 2006

They look like they wont stay "balanced" very long. I cant imagine running these things on rough roads much before those flexible spokes start changing their length and ovaling the whole tire! They should test them on Detroit area roads first maybe