There are many risks involved in driving a car. Fortunately, most trips usually go without any problems, but there are times when the road is really unlucky. Tire punctures are one of these real headaches. But thanks to Michelin and General Motors (GM) announcing a joint effort to improve airless tire technology, the problem could soon become a thing of the past.
After years of research and development, the French company Michelin, one of the leaders in the tire industry, has introduced a new generation of airless tires called UPTIS (Unique Puncture-proof Tire System, a unique puncture-resistant tire system). Airless (or non-pneumatic) tires do not use sealed chambers into which air is pumped.
The UPTIS structure consists of an outer tread and an inner rim, between which are stretched soft "spokes" made of a mixture of composite rubber and polymer fiberglass. Their use allows you to operate tires at a fairly high speed.
According to Digital Trends, UPTIS is an advanced version of the Tweel airless tires that the company introduced almost 15 years ago and is now using for skid steer loaders. The first variants of such tires had one significant drawback - they were louder than conventional tires, but the problem was solved over time.
Michelin is set to begin testing UPTIS on Chevrolet Bolt EVs this year at GM's Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan, USA. According to company representatives, these tires will reduce unsprung weight and increase the range without recharging.
If the tests are successful, GM will begin offering airless tires as an option for some models of its range of vehicles by 2024.
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What are the advantages of airless tires?
Airless tires provide a number of advantages over traditional solutions. First of all, such tires are not afraid of punctures, cuts and other damage, since they do not have a sealed chamber. For the same reason, airless tires do not lose performance from under or over pressure. All this, in turn, will reduce the costs of production and disposal of tires, and the volume of waste in their production. Michelin estimates the savings will be 2 million tires per year as fewer tires will have to be disposed of before the end of their useful life.
Perhaps, thanks to such tires, there will be no need for a spare wheel at all, which will generally make cars lighter. In addition, airless tires can have a positive effect on businesses with a large fleet of vehicles. They do not have to waste time replacing punctured tires, which will generally reduce maintenance time, positively impacting business.
Nikolay Khizhnyak