Your next tire?

[Syclone]

Somebody sent me this in an email today.

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
A... No more air compressors at gas stations
A... No more repair kits

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[efusco]

I wonder what the life expectancy of the tires would be. Not so much the wear life, but you'd have to believe that those fins would loose some of their support ability with sun exposure, use, and other things that would fatique them.
Interesting and progressive indeed.

[dreichla]

Looks like one bumpy ride. The alignment folks will make a killing on this one.

[daniel]

Since you didn't give a link: http://www.michelinman.com/difference/rele...e01102005a.html

Lots of advantages. I wonder, though, if the entire wheel will have to be replaced when the tread wears out, or if the tread portion will be replaceable. For me, never having to worry about getting a flat would be worth it.

But it looks like it won't be available for cars very soon. For now it'll be on Segway-type devices and wheelchairs.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dreichla @ Sep 25 2006, 07:01 AM) [snapback]324632[/snapback]</div>

Looks like one bumpy ride. The alignment folks will make a killing on this one.
[/b]

They claim the performance is comparable to that of conventional tires.

[dreichla]

Thanks for the link. I don't know about you, but that photo of the tire hitting the curb looks nasty. I assume the MPG's would be more consistent. Looks interesting though.

[Beryl Octet]

I love the see-through effect. I'd try a set, they'd make my futuristic car just that much more futuristic looking. With some ground effects lighting, it'd probably appear to be levitating. Now, if I can just figure out how to switch from blue to red ground effect lights when switching from battery to ICE... Yes, I think I have a plan now for my next mod.

[Tom_06]

Wait until they try it in snow/slush. My Audi had fairly open wheels that would sometimes pick up a lump of icy snow inside the wheel. Talk about an unbalanced wheel! Felt like the car was about to shake apart. Maybe only useful as a summer tire in this configuration?

- Tom

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom_06 @ Sep 25 2006, 09:58 AM) [snapback]324661[/snapback]</div>

Wait until they try it in snow/slush. My Audi had fairly open wheels that would sometimes pick up a lump of icy snow inside the wheel. Talk about an unbalanced wheel! Felt like the car was about to shake apart. Maybe only useful as a summer tire in this configuration?

- Tom [/b]

I don't see any reason they couldn't make a 'closed' version of the tire...just thin rubber sidewalls to prevent just than kind of thing. I thinking of the stick through the bicycle wheel spokes kind of situation!

[Skwyre7]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 25 2006, 11:03 AM) [snapback]324662[/snapback]</div>

I don't see any reason they couldn't make a 'closed' version of the tire...just thin rubber sidewalls to prevent just than kind of thing. I thinking of the stick through the bicycle wheel spokes kind of situation!
[/b]

I just pictured a car falling over because of a stick in one of the wheels. It gave me a good chuckle.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 25 2006, 08:03 AM) [snapback]324662[/snapback]</div>

I don't see any reason they couldn't make a 'closed' version of the tire...just thin rubber sidewalls to prevent just than kind of thing. I thinking of the stick through the bicycle wheel spokes kind of situation!
[/b]

I didn't see it mentioned in the article, but I'm assuming they are only open so people can see what's going on in these demos. If/when they go to market I'd bet they would be 'sealed'.