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The article acknowledges that: > Unlike past attempts at airless tires, Uptis functions the way other modern tires do and, Michelin claims, will provide a simi
by 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 agoI’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 agoAs 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 agoBecause 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.