I've seen a variant of these tires for skidsteers (loaders), and even considered at one point buying them for my own loaders. They seem to work quite well for loader applications, but are very pricey. Around a thousand bucks each.

It will be interesting if they become commonplace on cars. If they can be manufactured for a reasonable price and the materials used proven, they just might catch on.

But what do I know? I just bought a set of reproduction early sixties bias ply tires for a particular project. If anyone has even driven with bias plys, you'll know why it's a good thing to embrace new and evolving tire technology.





Terry

 

possibly adding weight and reducing gas mpg as well.

 

5 time

from 2005

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=tweel

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=tweel

from 2007

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=tweel

with video

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.devileash.com/flvplayer.swf?file=http://www.devileash.com/videos/189.flv"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.devileash.com/flvplayer.swf?file=http://www.devileash.com/videos/189.flv" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br><a href="http://www.devileash.com">Watch Future of Tires and more funny videos at Devileash.com</a>

from 2009

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=tweel

 

@ dancing baby

 

VVV




cost is the biggest issue, but also what happens on a pickup, when you are loaded vs being unloaded (since it would be smart to check tire pressures since the load is so different especially in the back)(basically have to make them either stiff riding for the weight, or soft enough for ride quality when empty)

but another thing is what happens when two completely different cars, use the same size tire..... are they going to make different sidewall stiffness's for each car (where you can currently do so with changing air pressure)
ie; this is the first one that comes to mind for me, let's take a 2g TL at roughly 3600 lbs. and compare it to a little civic hatchback with upgraded wheels at something like 2200 lbs; completely different pressure/stiffness requirements












then as terry kinda mentioned they do have there places especially on skid steers, and being on construction sites/factorys (mainly places where you do currently solid tires due to inflation issues), and picking up nails/metal shavings all day long (but the one issue i see for an construction site though, is good luck with not having the mud pack inside of them)

 

This 'airless" tire vid/pics are older than the interweb

 

I agree with the folks who mentioned "ugly" in their postings. As I stated, I would reserved judgement myself until the jury's in on these... and after some time in actual use by passenger vehicles. I am also somewhat of a purist and tend to question so called "improvements" until I am convinced an actual improvement is afoot. I like Frank Lloyd Wright's opine of "form follows function".

For many, these would be a valid option but I imagine for the purist and enthusiast crowd, it could take a bit before a move would be made in their direction. Somehow they remind me of the lunar rover from some 40 years ago during the Apollo program.

 

you mean those piano wire mesh wheels/tires...

 

Yeah, well that's because the moon only has 1/6th the gravitation force of the earth.

I suppose that these new tires could be dressed up enough to appeal to the buying public and if so, they may do well. I also suppose it might be a bit of a sell initially to get people to consider them. As for OEM factory tires, that could be an entirely different animal. Maybe for the greeny set.

 

Ex-girlfriends will lose one more method of angry revenge...

 

SouthernBoy, where did you find the information and the video? As I mentioned these have been rumored for a while and the exact video you posted has been floating on Acurazine from at least 2007 and maybe since the original 2005 threads (some of the links have gone dead).

I ask because I wonder if anything thing is really happening with these or if it's like the ancient video of the car with the doors that slide underneath it.

If it didn't have recent quotes from Michelin themselves I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for them.

 

They could always hacksaw a of few tread supports

 

exactly what I was thinking.

 

Right...... and tobacco companies will make one cigarette to last a week.

I just dont see this ever happening on cars.

 

A video was sent to me via email from a friend just the other day. I had not heard of these so I thought this was something more recent in the making. Sorry gentlemen if I have just rehashed an old posting.

 

Wouldn't this actually be better marketed as a wheel, not a tire. Really if it is one piece/system I would think someone like Enkie or BBS would need to partner with Michelin for this to get off the ground. I assume that when the "twheel" needs new rubber it would have to be sent to Michelin for a retread. What would you do with your car for the week it took to get new rubber put on the thing?

 

yeah, but where to I apply the tire shine?!

 

^ seriously!

 

We'll go ahead and merge it with the 2009 thread since it's the most recent. But yeah, this is kind of old news...

 

I'll paypal someone $11 if a tire like this comes out within the next decade. This story/concept/pics have been around since the Audi A4 in the pics was new.

 

I think this wouldn't work in emergency situations. That wheel looks like it flexes way too much to be safe. Imagine skidding with them or having them buckle when making a fast turn or swerving hard. They seem like they would need much more support to take on real driving g forces. I do like the concept though.