No More Flat Tyres!

[PaulCambio]

Not sure if this is a good idea?

Could flat tyres soon be a thing of the past?

Airless tyres that do not puncture are getting close to market but some remain sceptical about them.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[GeoffCapes]

Is it April the 1st?

 

[mowlas]

About time for some real innovation in tyres!

 

[mowlas]

Is it April the 1st?

No I think this is four wheel!

 

[GeoffCapes]

No I think this is four wheel!

Oh dear......

 

[spkennyuk]

Not sure if this is a good idea?

Could flat tyres soon be a thing of the past?

Airless tyres that do not puncture are getting close to market but some remain sceptical about them.

www.bbc.co.uk

I read the BBC article the other day. Strange that its hitting the news again now when IIRC it was Pirelli who came up with the concept and started developing the idea about 15 years ago as a combined wheel and airless tyre.

Michelin have since broughg out the turf x range.

The idea to start with was a weight saving / puncture free offering that would also be cheaper to produce than alloys wheels.

Whole after market industry that would be killed off if these do hit the roads.

 

[safrane]

I will await judgement until I know how they cope with all the sodding Pot-Holes here in the UK

 

[mjheathcote]

They can't be any worse than run flat tyres when they have no pressurised air in them!

 

[spkennyuk]

They can't be any worse than run flat tyres when they have no pressurised air in them!

If you ever had a kids bike or go-kart with solid wheels you may remember the vibrations at any speed. I can only imagine it being a lot worse at 70mph as against 10mph on a kids bike.

 

[CatmanV2]

If you ever had a kids bike or go-kart with solid wheels you may remember the vibrations at any speed. I can only imagine it being a lot worse at 70mph as against 10mph on a kids bike.

Well the idea is that the 'spokes' deform to provide the same (or at least similar) ride. Of course, they're not there yet, but Dunlop probably didn't get it right first time

<checks this isn't the EV thread>

C

 

[Gazcw]

I bet hard cornering would be interesting! I wonder how well they work when jammed up with ice and snow.

 

[mowlas]

I bet hard cornering would be interesting! I wonder how well they work when jammed up with ice and snow.

Exactly what I was wondering and cleaning them would be quite challenging. If this technology works, I suspect later iterations will be completely encased.

 

[safrane]

I bet hard cornering would be interesting! I wonder how well they work when jammed up with ice and snow.

Or have Wheel Acid sprayed over them?

 

[midlifecrisis]

I bet hard cornering would be interesting! I wonder how well they work when jammed up with ice and snow.

Clearly you don't drive fast enough for the heat to melt the ice and snow...

 

[Gazcw]

Clearly you don't drive fast enough for the heat to melt the ice and snow...

In snow and ice. You could be right.

 

[spkennyuk]

Wint be scuffed alloys anymore. Will be grazed or shattered plastics. I dont suppose a side impact crash or pot holes will do them much good either.

 

[RoaryRati]

I will await judgement until I know how they cope with all the sodding Pot-Holes here in the UK

They ain't much better in Europe - at least not some of the 'off-piste' roads we've found (including things like the A25 Calais to Mons)

 

[Ewan]

What will the Pirelli version be like in cold weather?