Drivers will soon be able to stop worrying about flat tyres as airless prototypes become reality

Major tyre manufacturers are busy testing fully airless wheels that could soon be in mass production, bringing an end to the issue of flat tyres and punctures for millions of drivers. US firm Goodyear is in Luxembourg using a tyre constructed from plastic spokes and reinforced rubber tread in place of traditional air-filled wheels with tread.

Michael Rachita, Goodyear's senior program manager for non-pneumatic tyres, told the BBC: "There will be noise, and some vibration. We're still learning how to soften the ride. But we think you'll be surprised at the performance."

With the proliferation of car sharing apps, a spike in food delivery and Uber, the need to keep vehicles on the road is more important than ever.

Mr Rachita said: "While air-filled tyres will always have their place, a mixture of solutions is needed.

“As we move into a world where autonomous vehicles are becoming more common and many cities are offering transport-as-a-service strategies, having a maintenance-free tyre is hugely important."

Goodyear tests the new tyres for thousands of miles in different conditions and for 24 hours at a time.

While some of the spokes bend and break, the overall structure of the tyre remains.

Mr Rachita explained: "It's test-learn, test-learn.

"But we're at a stage that's given us a huge amount of confidence. This is the real deal."

Rivals Michelin has also been working on airless tyres for the past three years.

There have been reports that the company’s ‘Unique Puncture-proof Tire System’ (Uptis) could be seen on a new Chevrolet Bolt electric car as early as 2024.

Uptis tyres are made of high-strength resin embedded with fibreglass and rubber to create a mesh structure wrapped around an aluminium wheel.

Cyrille Roget, a scientific and innovation expert at Michelin told the BBC: "We have 130 years of experience and knowledge in perfecting inflatable structures like pneumatic tyres. Airless technology is very recent."

However he wouldn’t confirm or deny the immediate production of Uptis.

The company plans to create a tyre that is airless, connected, 3D-printed and made entirely of materials that can be melted down and re-used.

It would also be zero-maintenance and would be well suited to the demands of EVs with heavy batteries.

Airless tyres have a greater contact the road, increasing the drag.

This rolling resistance uses more energy to drive the tyres forward - with implications for battery life and range.

Matt Ross, editor-in-chief of Tire Technology International said: "With engine sound removed on an electric car, tyres become the dominant source of noise.”

Also, the rigidity of plastic spokes transmits more vibration through the suspension.

Airless tyres are likely to be a fair amount more expensive than air-filled examples, initially at least.

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1625420/Tyre-puncture-airless-michelin-goodyear/amp

What will happen to our vulcanizers?

See country wey de work

bibianna:
What will happen to our vulcanizers?

Lol... dem go find another work learn be dat.

bibianna:
What will happen to our vulcanizers?

They will become tailors. Like seriously?

Our vulcanizers no go chop again!

Oyibo always innovative, thinking of how to improve the lives of people.
Black man always wicked, thinking of how to suffer people.

..... and I suffered a punctured tyre today!
Such an Information coming at the right time!

WibusJaga:

Oyibo always innovative, thinking of how to improve the lives of people. Black man always wicked, thinking of how to suffer people.

Especially those Nigerians thinking of voting for Tinubu

bibianna:
What will happen to our vulcanizers?

wat happened to those that worked in Savannah bank? Let's embrace advancement..... vulcanizers will find another tin to do

Can Nigerians afford it?

Fantabulous. Hope Nigeria road is considered when they are making the Tyre?

Perfect... Hope bulets wnt be able to penetrate too?

I thank God that blacks and Arabians are not the only humans on earth.

Authoreety:
Perfect... Hope bulets wnt be able to penetrate too?

I guess it will still continue to run smoothly if bullet penetrate it.

bibianna:
What will happen to our vulcanizers?

I saw this on BBC, good question but realise every advancement and innovation has found a way of incorporating it's manual skills and manual labour into the new system.

they will sure key in, so far development, innovation and advancement has being doing it. the banking sector, security, etc all example.

There is no limit to the use of this brain. Innovation at it peak.

Wow nice one.

One of the best innovation

Vulcanizers are off.

Vulcanizers go wreck.

Ok

These is good

Make vulcanizers go dey learn another work quickly then

Ok

bibianna:
What will happen to our vulcanizers?

. Them go sit down for shop

My vulcanizer will swear for this people

I can wait, vulcanizers charge 1k to patch a hole