Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024 • Hacker News Board

Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024

#191

Post by 22c » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 12:41 AM UTC

nebula8804 wrote: post #113

jillesvangurp wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's biodegradable, that would help. Only what remains of the tires ends up in landfills/recycled. The rest is a major contributor to microplastics in our oceans. The tires don't just erode into nothing. Those particles (mixed with particles from the road service) become dust that ends up in sewers when it rains, which drain to rivers, which drain to oceans. By the time the tire is used up, we're talking a sizable…

Can vulcanized rubber be broken down by something like Hydrous pyrolysis?

I don't know enough about chemical engineering, but there was a tyre recycling company called Pyrolyx AG that went bankrupt last year. I think they were doing something along the lines of what you're talking about but they failed to commercialize and the pandemic accelerated their demise.

Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024

#192

Post by amanaplanacanal » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 1:42 PM UTC

endswapper wrote: post #164

amanaplanacanal wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess that depends on how you define recyclable. I mean really, everything recycles given a long enough time frame.

I mean recyclable in a conventional sense the way most people understand it. Energy cost is probably the single biggest obstacle for the technology I mentioned above. Renewable energy is changing this. Most plastics will soon be a part of an efficient closed loop system. Regulations are driving some of this. However, the real driver is that these systems are incredibly profitable, and serve risk and resource manageme…

The technology may exist to recycle plastics, but at least where I live, there is No infrastructure for it to happen. So no, it isn’t recyclable in reality.

Can you point me to something that describes these closed loop systems? What you are saying sounds like a paid advertisement.

Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024

#193

Post by endswapper » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 1:09 AM UTC

amanaplanacanal wrote: post #192

endswapper wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean recyclable in a conventional sense the way most people understand it. Energy cost is probably the single biggest obstacle for the technology I mentioned above. Renewable energy is changing this. Most plastics will soon be a part of an efficient closed loop system. Regulations are driving some of this. However, the real driver is that these systems are incredibly profitable, and serve risk and resource manageme…

The technology may exist to recycle plastics, but at least where I live, there is No infrastructure for it to happen. So no, it isn’t recyclable in reality. Can you point me to something that describes these closed loop systems? What you are saying sounds like a paid advertisement.

The section on investments in technology and chemical recycling is probably most relevant to our discussion:

https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/nl/pdf/2021/sectoren/gr...

Anecdotally, those that are leading these investments and innovations are aggressive about it.

Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024

#194

Post by hnarn » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 8:08 AM UTC

This seems like an excellent idea for a spare tire, since those usually only lie around for a long time in the boot, and when they do get used it's expected that they don't perform exactly as the regular tires.

For some reason though, it seems like a lot of car manufacturers are moving away from spare tires to things like "car puncture kits" that fill your tire with foam or something. If the recycling of tires was abysmal before, something like that seems like it would make it even worse.

Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024

#195

Post by elif » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 12:41 PM UTC

godelski wrote: post #150

throwawaytire01 wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am an engineer working in the tire industry (throwaway is needed here). The Michelin "Tweel" IP was actually acquired when Michelin bought BF Goodrich 31 years ago. Goodrich developed the concept as a replacement for compact spare tires, doing the initial R&D in the 1980s. Every 3--5 years Michelin has a press release like this, and the technology is always 3--5 years away from release. Currently the US DOT and it'…

What are the reasons for it constantly being 3-5 years away? Technology? Regulations? Both? Manufacturers not thinking the public will understand tradeoffs and unwilling to take the risk and explain this to them? Can it at least work as a spare tire?

3-5 years means selling an extra 750-1250 million waste tires.

Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024

#196

Post by RegBarclay » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:22 PM UTC

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #86

RegBarclay wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Adjusting inflation pressure is a feature. I run my tires higher than the vehicle recommendation but still below the sidewall limit for improved fuel economy. Airing down for sand is a thing too.

That will likely increase wear and decrease traction. What's happening is that the contact patch is getting narrower and the sides of the tread aren't helping support the weight as much. I worked in a tire shop, and chronic overinflation caused tires to go bald in the center of the tread while the sides had tread left. Have to replace them more often then.

I understand the dynamics. My interests and driving style rank fuel economy over handling. I've never had tires wear out middle-first. I generally get edge wear first or even wear across the tread.

I just got a set of tires replaced under tread life warranty because they wore out edge first. The tire shop set the pressure higher than recommended and actually a little higher than I usually set it myself.