Invisible Tyres

[Ozram]

I don't know if this is old or what, but I received these pics in an email the other day & thought I'd share.

These tires are made in South Carolina, USA.

SEE THROUGH TIRES

A radical new tire design by Michelin.
The next generation of tires.
They had a pair at the Philadelphia car show.



Yes, those are 'spoke-like' connection fins to the inner part of the tire from
the outside tread 'wrap!' The next picture shows how odd it looks in motion...



Makes you wonder how the ride feels doesn't it?
Well, it is fantastic in the extreme!





These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon.

The bad news for Police and other law enforcement is that stinger spikes
will not work on these.

Just think of the impact on existing technology:

A. No more air valves...
B. No more air compressors at Gas stations...
C. No more repair kits.....
D. No more flat tires...
E. Less expensive and more money in the drivers pocket.


These are actual pictures taken in the South Carolina plant of Michelin.

[team_v]

Old news unfortunately.
Rocket has an opinion about them.

These ones would be better (note story was from mid 200:

http://www.automotto.org/entry/non-pneumatic-tire-to-make-debut-with-the-armed-forces/

Can see how this could be usefull but will it ever catch on?
If it does, it will tkae 15 years to filter down to useable prices.

[Rocket36]

They aren't invisible. You can see them. If it's invisible, it means you can't see it.

These have been around for years and are VERY old news.

Cost is prohibitive and people (mostly because they're dumb) will fear the unknown and the look. The technology is sound though.

[maca]

I'd have them, they look very different and effective.

[maca]

We have a winnnnnar!
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[Whubbsie]

They aren't invisible. You can see them. If it's invisible, it means you can't see it.

These have been around for years and are VERY old news.

Cost is prohibitive and people (mostly because they're dumb) will fear the unknown and the look. The technology is sound though.

He meant invisible because at speed it looks like there is nothing between the tread and the wheel, but yeah don't think he meant they are invisible as in can't been seen your floating on air at all times.

And it's not because people "are dumb" more likely because who ever made them didn't think it out properly.
Those rims don't look like normal, so you have to buy specialised wheels to run them which means specialised equipment to mount them.
They look ridicules and just plain wrong like carriage wheels, call it dumb if you must but everyone knows what tyres on a car look like, move too far away from that and it starts looking wrong doesn't matter how well they function if they make your car look stupid.

If they thought it out and put some side walls on there, make them fit standard wheels and sizing and make sure they can be fitted with the equipment thats around today, then theres no reason why they couldn't be sold at whatever price

Hell a tyre that will only need replacing once the tread is worn I'm sure people would fork out for the extra price.

[Speed]

We have a winnnnnar!
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Their great!