This is pretty cool.
Michelin, the company that invented the radial tire, has rolled out a radical new concept called the Tweel. As this prototype demonstrates, the traditional rubber tire and solid wheel duo is replaced by a tread bonded to a strong loop of composite material. The vehicle's weight hangs from a series of polymer plastic spokes that connect this loop to the hub. The flexible Tweel can bear the load of a pneumatic tire four times its size, it can cushion bumps five times better than a pneumatic tire, and the contact area can be nearly doubled for improved handling. Noise, mass, and rolling resistance have to be improved before this promising new technology is ready for high-speed, high-load passenger-car applications.
Thought you might like to see the next generation of tires. They had a pair at the Philadelphia Car show. Attached are pictures of the new Michelin tires. These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon.
The bad news for law enforcement is that spike strips will not work on these tires
This is what great R&D will do and just think of the impact on existing technology:
a. no more air valves.
b. no more air compressors at gas stations.
c. no more repair kits.
http://www.freshcreation.nl/comments.php?id=277_0_1_0_C
Michelin, the company that invented the radial tire, has rolled out a radical new concept called the Tweel. As this prototype demonstrates, the traditional rubber tire and solid wheel duo is replaced by a tread bonded to a strong loop of composite material. The vehicle's weight hangs from a series of polymer plastic spokes that connect this loop to the hub. The flexible Tweel can bear the load of a pneumatic tire four times its size, it can cushion bumps five times better than a pneumatic tire, and the contact area can be nearly doubled for improved handling. Noise, mass, and rolling resistance have to be improved before this promising new technology is ready for high-speed, high-load passenger-car applications.
Thought you might like to see the next generation of tires. They had a pair at the Philadelphia Car show. Attached are pictures of the new Michelin tires. These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon.
The bad news for law enforcement is that spike strips will not work on these tires
This is what great R&D will do and just think of the impact on existing technology:
a. no more air valves.
b. no more air compressors at gas stations.
c. no more repair kits.
http://www.freshcreation.nl/comments.php?id=277_0_1_0_C
