Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
interestingengineering.com
Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
1–10 of 196 posts
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#2I was expecting yet another minor convenience that doubled the ecological footprint of a thing. But it looks like reducing impact was actually a goal here. Pretty awesome.
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#3How do they deal with rocks/mud/dirt/sand getting inside?
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#4Even if these tires aren't good enough for the snobs who want everything to be silent and handle perfectly they'll be great for trailers, yard trucks and other rarely used vehicles that rack up few miles and run run old-ish tires (which tend to be more plagued by slow leaks and whatnot) but still need to go highway speed.
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#5How do they deal with rocks/mud/dirt/sand getting inside?
I'm hoping that's a prototype that just shows the structure inside and not the final design. But I guess we'll find out, or they will in that trial.
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#6How do they deal with rocks/mud/dirt/sand getting inside?
I suspect the production version will have a covering on the sidewall for that and to reduce aerodynamic drag. It won’t be structural like current tires but I think the “wall-free” design you see now is Just prototype marketing.
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#7How do they deal with rocks/mud/dirt/sand getting inside?
Looks like a complete pass through from one side to the other so washing them should remove most of that. Rocks might even fall out as the tyre rotates.
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#8Very cool. Would this also help with particle release from tire wear?
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#9Elon Musk on airless tires for Tesla:
Re: Michelin's airless tires are scheduled for market launch in 2024
#10How do they deal with rocks/mud/dirt/sand getting inside?
I suspect the production version will have a covering on the sidewall for that and to reduce aerodynamic drag. It won’t be structural like current tires but I think the “wall-free” design you see now is Just prototype marketing.
That will interfere with cooling. Heat buildup will reduce lifespan.
This was researched and practiced since at least first world war, with pioneering applications dating to 1850s.
TLDR: internal friction in the rubber kills it. Acceptable for military and heavy-duty vehicles, useless for anything else.