Electric vehicles require a different set of tires
than gas-powered ones, but one automaker plans to take this interesting car part
to a new level. The airless tire concept is coming to the automotive industry soon. How do they work, and how are they beneficial? Who's bringing airless tires to the automotive industry?
Technically, we already see airless tires, but they've been on ATVs and lawnmowers as of late. However, plans are in the works to bring them to automobiles in just a few short years.
In an interview with CNN
, Michelin said that they're partnering with General Motors to use a new version of them, known as Uptis tires. The two companies plan on implementing these tires with the next generation of the Chevy Bolt electric model. The French company, Michelin
, has been making pneumatic (air-filled) tires since the late 1800s. Nowadays, they're among the best tire manufacturers due to their high-quality build and how long they generally last. It's been used on many vehicles ever since because of its versatility in adapting to any road surface. Michelin has made some of the best all-terrain tires on the market, so an airless version isn't so far-fetched.
How does the airless tire design work, and what are the benefits?
Standard pneumatic tires run on pressurized air. So, of course, if a nail or other sharp object punctures it, air will leak out and the tire will deflate. Airless tires are still prone to punctures, but their performance won't be affected in any way.
Instead of air, the tire holds its shape using little ribs connecting the inner wheel to the outside treads. They are reinforced with rubber and injected with a fiberglass material.
Besides eliminating the annoyance of putting air in the tires, it also offers the ability to retread them and reuse them quite easily, saving money in the long run.
The only thing we don't quite know yet is how much these tires will cost consumers. The X Tweels, which are the tires used on various lawnmowers, can cost over $600 for just one. If prices are that high for automobiles, few owners will be too keen on getting them.
Are airless tires really a new concept to the automobile industry?
Actually, the Michelin Uptis tires are new for modern times. A version of the airless tire was designed back in the 1930s. An aircraft inventor who also dabbled with automobiles, James Vernon Martin, worked on an “elastic spoke tire” during WWII.
According to Jalopnik
, he developed his tires to be puncture-resistant, easy to ride on uneven terrain, and easier to control at higher speeds. However, he seemed to have geared it for military use rather than everyday civilian driving. Michelin's Uptis tires are designed much like what Martin developed in the WWII era. The difference is that Michelin's will be used on a daily driver in normal driving conditions.
MORE: These Tire Maintenance Tips Will Save You Money and Keep You Safe
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