1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Your next tire?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Syclone, Sep 25, 2006.

  1. Syclone

    Syclone Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2006
    540
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    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

    [attachmentid=5158]

    [attachmentid=5159]
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Syclone, Sep 25, 2006
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    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.
     
    #2 efusco, Sep 25, 2006
  3. dreichla

    dreichla New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    2,230
    0
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Looks like one bumpy ride. The alignment folks will make a killing on this one.
     
    #3 dreichla, Sep 25, 2006
  4. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2004
    14,487
    1,518
    0
    Location:
    Spokane, WA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    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>
    They claim the performance is comparable to that of conventional tires.
     
    #4 daniel, Sep 25, 2006
  5. dreichla

    dreichla New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    2,230
    0
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    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.
     
    #5 dreichla, Sep 25, 2006
  6. Beryl Octet

    Beryl Octet New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2006
    1,293
    0
    0
    Location:
    Abingdon VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    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.
     
    #6 Beryl Octet, Sep 25, 2006
  7. Tom_06

    Tom_06 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2006
    609
    142
    0
    Location:
    Newark, Delaware, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    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
     
    #7 Tom_06, Sep 25, 2006
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom_06 @ Sep 25 2006, 09:58 AM) [snapback]324661[/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!
     
    #8 efusco, Sep 25, 2006
  9. Skwyre7

    Skwyre7 What's the catch?

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2006
    2,332
    6
    0
    Location:
    Richmond, Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 25 2006, 11:03 AM) [snapback]324662[/snapback]</div>
    I just pictured a car falling over because of a stick in one of the wheels. It gave me a good chuckle.
     
    #9 Skwyre7, Sep 25, 2006
  10. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2005
    871
    160
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 25 2006, 08:03 AM) [snapback]324662[/snapback]</div>
    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'.
     
    #10 San_Carlos_Jeff, Sep 29, 2006
  11. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2004
    1,637
    16
    0
    Location:
    Dallas TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    <_< Hmmmm... saw this some months back. Verrrrrrrrrry Interesting...

    How would you simulate different air pressures.? I run my Prius at 40/38 for fuel economy. Even if you could purchase based on "softness" or some such category, you still couldn't adjust to different conditions.

    I do like the advanced thinking.
     
    #11 Charles Suitt, Sep 29, 2006
  12. Rangerdavid

    Rangerdavid Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2006
    1,362
    52
    0
    Location:
    Boone, North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(syclone @ Sep 25 2006, 09:26 AM) [snapback]324620[/snapback]</div>
    HMMmmmm......... these could be just the thing for my next get away!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

    really hate those spike strips!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
     
    #12 Rangerdavid, Sep 29, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)