3 ms·

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html Airless tires have been obsolete for over a century, but crackpot "in

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html Airless tires have been obsolete for over a century, but crackpot "inventors" keep trying to bring them back. They are heavy and slow. They give a harsh ride and poor high-speed cornering on rough surfaces. They are also likely to cause wheel damage, due to their poor cushioning ability. A pneumatic tire uses all of the air in the whole tube as a shock absorber, while foam-type "airless" tires/tubes only use the air in the immediate area of impact...

leereeves 7y ago
The article acknowledges that: > Unlike past attempts at airless tires, Uptis functions the way other modern tires do and, Michelin claims, will provide a similar driving experience. And I doubt Michelin is leaving this up to "crackpot inventors".
- hprotagonist 7y ago
  I’ve seen the exact same design crash and burn three times from respectable companies in the bicycle and motorcycle world. Hard ride, bad traction, pain in the royal butt to service or install...i don’t see these things changing just because the tire’s on a car now. i predict we hear nothing else about this design.
- gameswithgo 7y ago
  As someone with a degree of practical expertise in Tires both automotive and cycling, who has seen this idea come and go a lot of times, I too remain fairly confident this tire will be fairly terrible compared to pneumatic tires, and useful only in fringe use cases where getting flats is a serious problem. I will of course be happy to be wrong!
- nwah1 7y ago
  Because the wheel and tire would both be constructed out of fiberglass webbing, it seems like this could potentially reduce weight. But whether it provides enough durability, traction, and a smooth riding experience is unclear. I'm rooting for them. Michelin definitely aren't crackpots.
orblivion 7y ago
I once saw a guy with (all according to his claim, albeit) a Penny-farthing from the mid to late 1800s. The original tire was there, all beaten up. It was just a strip of rubber.
macNchz 7y ago
>They are also likely to cause wheel damage, due to their poor cushioning ability Even regular run-flat tires seem to make wheel damage more likely. My car came with run flats and had multiple bent wheels over time, but I haven’t had any issues since I replaced them with normal tires a few years ago. Dramatically smoother and quieter ride as well. Lacking a spare tire I put some fix a flat and a 12v inflator in the trunk and hope for the best...

leereeves 7y ago

The article acknowledges that: > Unlike past attempts at airless tires, Uptis functions the way other modern tires do and, Michelin claims, will provide a similar driving experience. And I doubt Michelin is leaving this up to "crackpot inventors".

hprotagonist 7y ago
I’ve seen the exact same design crash and burn three times from respectable companies in the bicycle and motorcycle world. Hard ride, bad traction, pain in the royal butt to service or install...i don’t see these things changing just because the tire’s on a car now. i predict we hear nothing else about this design.
gameswithgo 7y ago
As someone with a degree of practical expertise in Tires both automotive and cycling, who has seen this idea come and go a lot of times, I too remain fairly confident this tire will be fairly terrible compared to pneumatic tires, and useful only in fringe use cases where getting flats is a serious problem. I will of course be happy to be wrong!
nwah1 7y ago
Because the wheel and tire would both be constructed out of fiberglass webbing, it seems like this could potentially reduce weight. But whether it provides enough durability, traction, and a smooth riding experience is unclear. I'm rooting for them. Michelin definitely aren't crackpots.

orblivion 7y ago

I once saw a guy with (all according to his claim, albeit) a Penny-farthing from the mid to late 1800s. The original tire was there, all beaten up. It was just a strip of rubber.

macNchz 7y ago

>They are also likely to cause wheel damage, due to their poor cushioning ability Even regular run-flat tires seem to make wheel damage more likely. My car came with run flats and had multiple bent wheels over time, but I haven’t had any issues since I replaced them with normal tires a few years ago. Dramatically smoother and quieter ride as well. Lacking a spare tire I put some fix a flat and a 12v inflator in the trunk and hope for the best...