new kind of tire/wheel... crazy

[K_Po_Uno]

This is a new kind of wheel that is in development. No air. It's got a wheel in the middle, flexible spokes, and a tread on the outside.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/K_Po_Uno/newwheel.jpg

Here's a link from Michelin:

http://www.michelinman.com/difference/releases/pressrelease01102005a.html

[632 Regal]

dont drive that thing down my frozen mud road, off balance forever!

[Paul in NZ]

aahhh jeff i think that is a cutaway mate........is this how run flats are made????

[Phatty5BMW]

lol no thats not how run-flats are made, they are made with a thick coating of stuff, I'm not sure what it is, but I'll tell you its really really sticky. I worked at a store and sold tires and I always played with the stuff in the run-flats. It feels like soft rubber.....lol

[632 Regal]

that might make more sence...I feel so, well stupid now.

sheesh...

[liquidtiger720]

Cutaway ey?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/walki600/tweel31024.jpg
http://www.michelinman.com/images/promo/2005_tweel_gallery/tweel_007.JPG



http://www.sportbilen.se/e_index.php?page=e_news.php?id=89
http://www.michelinman.com/difference/releases/pressrelease01102005a.html

I think its a pretty neat.

[rockyfeller]

These morons who think "in the future"...do they always forget that it should LOOK GOOD maybe? Credit is due to the exotic engineering required for such a feat. I think they pray that ugly grows on ya and everyone buys it. Historically many novel ideas never sold just cause they were just UGLY. I'd say cover that ugly sidewall to make it look more like a tire; OK maybe it dosen't have air inside, I don't need to show everyone that. Designers learned this lesson with electric/hybrid cars....Just beacuse we want something mechanically futuristic dosen't mean we want to be seen in a spaceship with wheels. Hybrids sell because they look just like their gasoline counterparts.

[Kalevera]

Dude...they cut off the sidewall to show that the thing isn't holding air...these tires normally have them, though. I agree with your rant, though....just think about the AZTEC...hahaha!

A friend of mine drove a set of these last summer. Apparently, he also worked on developing early forms of this idea with DuPont a few decades ago. I asked him about how they rode, he said that they REALLY took a beating - could do 80mph with the thing warped and bashed to all hell.

The problem is that they weigh more, and they're much more expensive, both in terms of manufacturing tech costs and materials, than a standard tire. It's also going to ride a lot rougher.

I don't know if those are on the market yet, but my friend said it'd be a few years. I'm sure there'll be people who will pay the premium for the luxury of an "airless" tire.

Best, whit

[bahnstormer]

i posted this quite some time ago....?

[Kalevera]

that is true, you trendsetter you.

[liquidtiger720]

oh. Gotcha whit.

[rockyfeller]

Are u sure that they were cut away for demonstration? (I hope so!) Reason I say that is that there are other pics in that article of the same type of tire used in other applications such as that bulldozer and that bicycle too. None of them has sidewalls. If there's supposed to be a sidewall it looks too tall for an A4, more like a 65 or 70 series tire. And how do A4 rotors fit in that tiny wheel?

[K_Po_Uno]

Obviously the first generation tweel is not that attractive.... but much potential. Imagine what momo would do with this advanced tire design. People are spending retarded money on wheels/ tires. If they could imitate lo profile, they'll sell.

[Qsilver7]

they did have the Tweel on display..but they also had other wheels (basic same airless design) that had sidewalls. What was interesting...the sidewalls were displayed adorned in various colors. So for those whose first reaction is that they're ugly...it appears they have more attractive design features up their sleeves. :)