Filed under: Chevrolet,Emerging Technologies,Technology,Hatchback,Electric,Future

Uptis tires could be used for production by 2024.Continue reading Michelin and GM test airless tires on Chevy Bolt EV

Michelin and GM test airless tires on Chevy Bolt EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Permalink | Email this | Comments

More...

 

Do they mount to a rim or are they a rim? Any idea of the cost?

 

It's all in the first paragraph of the article.

"could be used for production by 2024" so it's not for sale yet.

The article calls it a "tweel", which is a portmanteau of 'tire' and 'wheel' so I assume it's all one piece.

 

That thing looks like it could get packed full of ice, snow, mud, ect. Not so sure about the ride either, but who can say?

 

That's what I was thinking. Rocks, nails, glass and other debris are going to get in there and destroy it in short order. Tires are made of cheap and available rubber. These things are going to require some pretty high tech materials.

 

Exactly. Carbon-fiber maybe? Then it looks like a one-piece unit, so no changing out the wheels for some nicer ones. How do you balance this "air-less tire"? And what good would it do if some substance gets inside the "tire", throwing the balance off ?

 

Good point. It would have to self clear somehow.

"Sandwiched between the outer tread and the inner aluminum wheel are a bunch of spokes or ribs that substitute air pressure. These spokes are made of a combination of rubber and fiberglass reinforced resin."

That means it's going to be attacked by UV light.

So maybe it does still have a traditional rim.

 

i nice pothole looks like it would break that thing