4 ms·

You're absolutely right, but I'm still happy that someone created a full-size prototype of it outside the lab, and is testing it, tinkering with it and putting

You're absolutely right, but I'm still happy that someone created a full-size prototype of it outside the lab, and is testing it, tinkering with it and putting it out there so people can also try it and experiment with it. I don't know what this could lead to, maybe some sort of hybrid air-filled spring loaded undestructible bike tire, maybe it's going to end-up in a completely different application, such as wheelchairs or farming tractors or mining equipment.

zbrozek 6y ago
I'm also glad folks are tinkering. That said, bike tires are probably not where I would expect something like this to land. I would love these to replace the tires on things like utility carts, air compressors, etc that typically end up with solid tires. Those solid tires are awful, but pneumatic ones must be filled and that's annoying for infrequently used stuff.
- analog31 6y ago
  Agreed. I happen to enjoy the hobby of tinkering with old bikes, so my bikes are typically a few decades behind the latest technology. So I can adopt a wait-and-see philosophy. But still I remember a cynical comment by my dad, maybe 40 years ago. They had just announced some new advanced material, and my dad said: "Mark my words, the first applications will be high end bikes and golf clubs." Also, improving on the bicycle is a very common capstone project for design students.
mdip 6y ago
Frankly, a tire that could maintain 80% of its performance under circumstances that a run-flat or standard tire would "blow-out" would be the difference between life and death on a motorcycle. Run-flat tires don't protect (enough) from blow-out, only puncture, which are handled well by most automotive/motorcycle tires, already. I realize the risk of blow-out is pretty low, but I've had it happen to me[0] -- regardless of how low a risk, I'd pay 4-5 times as much per tire on my motorcycle for being able to increase my chances of survival should that happen. [0] I probably don't need to mention this happened to me in a car since I'm not writing this from the afterlife.
- ska 6y ago
  It's an interesting idea, but the fraction of motorcycle fatalities caused by blow-outs is so minuscule it's far more likely the decreased performance overall of this tire would cause far more. Unless you are assuming equivalent performance, which seems unlikely. Modern motorcycle tires are incredibly good, even (with appropriate ones) in rain.
  - _carbyau_ 6y ago
    Tyres are amazing anecdata: I got a rear puncture on my GSXR1000 while riding 100kmhr through the countryside. Straight was only slight issue, I noticed somethnig seemed a bit weird but road had minor undulations and I slowed a bit to 80. Slight turn though was quite wobbly so I stopped. Tyre gauge said less then 20psi, flat as it gets. That I could ride in a straight line with such stability was amazing testament to the tyre. I limped 30km to nearest town at 30kmhr or so. Slow but doable. Would I want to do this again? No, of course not. But that I could? Amazing. I agree that tyre performance > runflat as priority.
    - mdip 6y ago
      Holy cow - good to know. Were those run-flat tires? I'm about to replace the tyres[0] on mine in a month and I'm researching the safest options. [0] British, mate?
      - _carbyau_ 6y ago
        No, the tyres were not runflat. They were Michelin Road 2. Sports touring-ish tyres. But I suspect most modern radials would have performed similar. Few caveats: - a GSXR being a sports bike doesn't carry a lot of weight on the rear, until you accelerate hard. I suspect a cruiser style bike might have struggled more. Especially if with a pillion or loaded up with luggage. - a flat tyre does deform a lot! It wasn't enjoyable riding! It wiggled and jiggled the whole way, only a little on the straight, much more on even a slight turn. - my 30kmhr speed was because the GSXR1000 1st gear meant the engine idled at 20kmhr and so was on the verge of stalling. I picked minimum above that. - After the 30km I had wrecked two strips either side of the main middle strip. I guess the middle strip didn't take much weight and flexed out of the way a lot (like a "W" shape) hence heating and ruining the two strips of rubber either side. - I got a plug to get me 200-ish km home (cruising at 100kmhr again but otherwise being gentle, no hard acceleration or cornering) and then that tyre got replaced as soon as I could get it into a shop. Am Australian. Maximum safety means different things to different people. Around the city, something that handles the wet and has good grip. Your regular multi-compound (harder middle, softer edges) tubeless. If I were tyre shopping for "maximum safety" for long cruising trips into the Outback etc with fully loaded bike. Maybe a tyre that takes a tube, and carry a spare tube, tools and knowhow to use them. Much happens nowadays with a simple good modern tubeless tyre, a $1000 emergency budget and a mobile phone. If going really far out, an epirb or satellite phone or similar. Edit: forgot to mention, some people think Slime and a pump might be an option. Hand pumping a motorbike tyre from truly flat though might take a while! Might want at least a foot pump or a small compressor... But the point is that modern multi-compound radial tyres ARE really quite good. Even my tyre puncture was a nail, likely from leaving the town before I noticed the flat...

zbrozek 6y ago

I'm also glad folks are tinkering. That said, bike tires are probably not where I would expect something like this to land. I would love these to replace the tires on things like utility carts, air compressors, etc that typically end up with solid tires. Those solid tires are awful, but pneumatic ones must be filled and that's annoying for infrequently used stuff.

analog31 6y ago
Agreed. I happen to enjoy the hobby of tinkering with old bikes, so my bikes are typically a few decades behind the latest technology. So I can adopt a wait-and-see philosophy. But still I remember a cynical comment by my dad, maybe 40 years ago. They had just announced some new advanced material, and my dad said: "Mark my words, the first applications will be high end bikes and golf clubs." Also, improving on the bicycle is a very common capstone project for design students.

mdip 6y ago

Frankly, a tire that could maintain 80% of its performance under circumstances that a run-flat or standard tire would "blow-out" would be the difference between life and death on a motorcycle. Run-flat tires don't protect (enough) from blow-out, only puncture, which are handled well by most automotive/motorcycle tires, already. I realize the risk of blow-out is pretty low, but I've had it happen to me[0] -- regardless of how low a risk, I'd pay 4-5 times as much per tire on my motorcycle for being able to increase my chances of survival should that happen. [0] I probably don't need to mention this happened to me in a car since I'm not writing this from the afterlife.

ska 6y ago
It's an interesting idea, but the fraction of motorcycle fatalities caused by blow-outs is so minuscule it's far more likely the decreased performance overall of this tire would cause far more. Unless you are assuming equivalent performance, which seems unlikely. Modern motorcycle tires are incredibly good, even (with appropriate ones) in rain.
- _carbyau_ 6y ago
  Tyres are amazing anecdata: I got a rear puncture on my GSXR1000 while riding 100kmhr through the countryside. Straight was only slight issue, I noticed somethnig seemed a bit weird but road had minor undulations and I slowed a bit to 80. Slight turn though was quite wobbly so I stopped. Tyre gauge said less then 20psi, flat as it gets. That I could ride in a straight line with such stability was amazing testament to the tyre. I limped 30km to nearest town at 30kmhr or so. Slow but doable. Would I want to do this again? No, of course not. But that I could? Amazing. I agree that tyre performance > runflat as priority.
  - mdip 6y ago
    Holy cow - good to know. Were those run-flat tires? I'm about to replace the tyres[0] on mine in a month and I'm researching the safest options. [0] British, mate?
    - _carbyau_ 6y ago
      No, the tyres were not runflat. They were Michelin Road 2. Sports touring-ish tyres. But I suspect most modern radials would have performed similar. Few caveats: - a GSXR being a sports bike doesn't carry a lot of weight on the rear, until you accelerate hard. I suspect a cruiser style bike might have struggled more. Especially if with a pillion or loaded up with luggage. - a flat tyre does deform a lot! It wasn't enjoyable riding! It wiggled and jiggled the whole way, only a little on the straight, much more on even a slight turn. - my 30kmhr speed was because the GSXR1000 1st gear meant the engine idled at 20kmhr and so was on the verge of stalling. I picked minimum above that. - After the 30km I had wrecked two strips either side of the main middle strip. I guess the middle strip didn't take much weight and flexed out of the way a lot (like a "W" shape) hence heating and ruining the two strips of rubber either side. - I got a plug to get me 200-ish km home (cruising at 100kmhr again but otherwise being gentle, no hard acceleration or cornering) and then that tyre got replaced as soon as I could get it into a shop. Am Australian. Maximum safety means different things to different people. Around the city, something that handles the wet and has good grip. Your regular multi-compound (harder middle, softer edges) tubeless. If I were tyre shopping for "maximum safety" for long cruising trips into the Outback etc with fully loaded bike. Maybe a tyre that takes a tube, and carry a spare tube, tools and knowhow to use them. Much happens nowadays with a simple good modern tubeless tyre, a $1000 emergency budget and a mobile phone. If going really far out, an epirb or satellite phone or similar. Edit: forgot to mention, some people think Slime and a pump might be an option. Hand pumping a motorbike tyre from truly flat though might take a while! Might want at least a foot pump or a small compressor... But the point is that modern multi-compound radial tyres ARE really quite good. Even my tyre puncture was a nail, likely from leaving the town before I noticed the flat...