Airless tires are here, and the tire industry collapses instantly
A car tire blowout is a frightening problem at any time. It will not only strand your journey and travel plans, but also threaten your life safety in serious cases. The introduction of airless tires will completely put an end to serious safety threats such as tire blowouts.
Airless tires are also called airless tires. Airless tires are wheels that do not require inflation. Their rubber treads are connected to the hub with flexible spokes. Instead of using a rim plus a tire, assembly and disassembly operations become very simple. Moreover, there is no need to inflate, and there is no fear of punctures. It is a new type of tire that is both safe and environmentally friendly.
In fact, this is not a new concept. Many tire manufacturers have tried to introduce airless tire technology into their products, but most of them are in the exploratory stage. Although concept products have been released, their cost is huge compared to ordinary tires. They cannot achieve the same high-speed performance and comfort as ordinary tires, which also makes the practical application of airless tires difficult.
1. Airless tires are here
As a very novel tire concept, airless tires are becoming a reality.
Last June, Michelin, one of the world's largest tire manufacturers, said it was already demonstrating the testing of Michelin Uptis airless tire technology on Tesla.
So far, Michelin has completed testing Michelin Uptis airless tires on Chevrolet BOLT, and plans to continue testing Michelin Uptis airless tires on GM's electric models.
So far, the test tires are still prototype tires and cannot be provided to consumers, but this airless tire will be on the market in the near future, possibly as early as the end of the year. In addition, Tesla has also tested Goodyear's airless tires, proving that airless tires have a future.
2. Advantages of Michelin Uptis airless tires
Michelin Uptis (unique puncture-proof tire system) is a very unique design. It is airless, puncture-proof, and the tire adopts an open design. Uptis (unique puncture-proof tire system) uses a special composite material to ensure strength. The rubber tread is bonded to it. On the inside of the tire is a flexible network of strips that can bend according to road conditions and the weight of the car.
As the tire rolls forward, the tire strips naturally bend and pass over small obstacles. Compared with ordinary tires, it has greater flexibility. Most importantly, its airless tire structure is perfectly puncture-proof. Even if a sharp object punctures the tire, it will not lose air and cause safety hazards.
Michelin expects that Michelin Uptis (a unique puncture-proof tire system) will have a longer service life, about three times that of traditional tires, and will reduce tire wear emissions, reduce waste, and be more environmentally friendly, contributing to sustainable strategies.
3. Airless tires give Tesla more power
Michelin Uptis tires are lighter and more aerodynamically efficient. Although the open tire design may cause resistance, it has no significant impact after Michelin's testing.
On the contrary, compared with traditional tires, energy-saving, for Tesla, this tire is not only safe, but also very energy-saving, and will not drag down Tesla's high performance because of the tire. Of course, more tests are needed for airless tires to truly enter the market, such as certain extreme conditions, weather, road types, etc.
It can also be used for autonomous driving tests, such as Tesla's Robotaxi system. In short, airless tires have many advantages and are transforming from a concept into a super easy-to-use product.
