Michelin's Revolutionary New Tire

II kings 9:20 · 06-16-2006, 10:02 PM

This looks really interesting. These were on display at the Philadelphia auto 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
a... no more air compressors at gas stations
a... no more repair kits

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

II kings 9:20 · 06-16-2006, 10:04 PM

More Pics to think about.

MR Bulk · 06-16-2006, 10:08 PM

Ah'm in!!!

srt8danno · 06-16-2006, 10:35 PM

That is incredible! It actually looks as if 21st Century technology has finally been brought to the tire. I wonder how they handle. I think they should donate sets to members of this forum so that we may beta test them……well only if they’re safe.

Amazing.

Thanks Kings for the info!

II kings 9:20 · 06-16-2006, 11:02 PM

If you look at the Audi in motion it looks to have an increased contact patch which should stick like glue.

srt8danno · 06-16-2006, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by II kings 9:20

If you look at the Audi in motion it looks to have an increased contact patch which should stick like glue.

You're right. Hey we could use some glue! So this is just now coming out or have I been living under a rock in the swamp down here?

joey · 06-16-2006, 11:26 PM

Kind of fugly. I bet they will change the look and put some kind of fake side wall on the tire.

glhs837 · 06-16-2006, 11:37 PM

I was hoping to see one on display when we visited Laurens for the STE, the facility mnetioned in the original post. No such luck. If they can survive the environmentals that regular tires do, I dont see a downside. I also agree a sidewall is required, for FOD if nothing else.

A rock in there, causing a breakdow of the matrix, could be disastrous. But it shold be cheaper, like big rig retreads.

JeDiHemi · 06-17-2006, 02:10 AM

kinda ugly, but kinda not... with the right rims, they might look good.. any word on these becoming a reality?

Hogward · 06-17-2006, 02:18 AM

I can't wait! We'll have to figure out a way to pimp these tires, though...