New Tire Design by Michelin

[Stang Girl]

Very interesting new tire design by Michelin. The next generation of tires.

They had a pair at the Philadelphia car show.

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

SCAN DOWN & SEE.

These are actual pictures taken in the South Carolina plant of Michelin. It will be awhile before they are available to the automotive industry.

 

[cloaked_chaos]

Those are the ugliest tires I have ever seen. The "flexible spokes" look like they will wear out extremely fast and will make the tire sag.

 

[Aero540T]

really interesting and a pretty sweet idea but i agree it looks fugly

 

[techboj]

I've seen this in news /press release almost two years ago (early 2005). There was even a video of the audi car running the "tweel". It's probably good on passenger car applications such as imports, (or lowered trucks) etc where the gap of the spokes to the tread wouldnt be too noticeable. However, I probably wouldnt install in on an suv/truck application (oem size). Personally, I wouldnt install it on my X even if the technology was available. It just doesnt "look right". mho

 

[410Fortune]

they are tunable for firmness
I personally think they rule and the traction they would provide off road looks promising, how they conform to objects.
With no sidewall traction things could get interesting

no flats!

 

[F14CRAZY]

Guys, they're going to have sidewalls and look normal :. The Audi "tweels" don't have them to show off what's going on inside.

 

[old mechanic]

Hummm, I'll be keeping a eye on these tires. Probably start off with a 235-75-15 going for $350.00 each!

 

[Aero540T]

Guys, they're going to have sidewalls and look normal :. The Audi "tweels" don't have them to show off what's going on inside.

you have probably the coolest username ever...airplane enthusiast? It's funny you live like 10 miles from me haha

 

[drx]

I wonder if they have those for 20- 22 inch rims

 

[IAmTodd]

4th pic kind of scares me. I could also see that seperating very easy.

 

[02_ex_on_dubs]

very interesting, but also very ugly..