Michelin New tire design... WTF

[dbest671]

Received this from a friend in an email:

These tires are made in South Carolina , USA .

SEE THROUGH TIRES
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 connections to the inner part of the tire from the outside tread 'wrap!' The next picture shows how odd it looks in motion...

http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/images/michelin1.jpg
http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/images/michelin2.jpg

Makes you wonder how the ride feels doesn't it?

http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/images/michelin3.jpg

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.
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 flats...
These are actual pictures taken at the South Carolina plant of Michelin.
http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/images/michelin6.jpg
http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/images/michelin5.jpg

[green-lantern]

That email is older than you my friend :p

[dbest671]

Well shit... I haven't seen it before.

[R/T93]

i wonder how they handle/turn? By the looks of them I am guessing they wouldn't :/ Seems like they would be slippery around corners. I dont know though.

Yes, that is some old info, probably 5+ years old.

[green-lantern]

Well I tried to find it on snopes buy their search SUCKS worse than another site I know!!!

[DocWalt]

It's called the Tweel. I don't know how to feel about it.

[MNRVR4]

Hey an Audi A6 c5 :D

[n2nsanity]

they were talking about these like 8 years ago. i think those are the same pics too.

[EvanH]

I remember seeing it on like discovery or something, years, ago. The main point was able to absorb impact from obstructions like the shown concrete step/drop off. Id be interested to see the price, and some actual race stuff application to see how well it handles.

Ok.....we will call that a curb.

[CoreyB]

I heard of those before. Would want to use those anywhere that snow, mud, or rocks could get it them.

[TUFFTR]

They were pictured driving over a landmine (or small explosive land device) and they still kept going. Interesting idea.

[reallyxxxxxxloud]

I remember reading about these and unless they can get the noise issue down they will not be producing them for passenger vehicles. Also I remember them saying that traction wise they flexed into corners keeping traction over the entire width instead of rolling to the edge of the tyre. Also they are a complete tyre/mag combo as they are built as one. The tyre does not come off the mag.

[Blue91SL]

I live within ten minutes of the plant in question (It's on Michelin Boulevard in Anderson, SC). And I know a few people that work there. No one has heard anything about these actually coming out. So I kinda doubt it would happen.
Also, really cool perk to working at Michelin, they give you a yearly tire allowance. Free tires once a year. :)

[GordonRamsey]

hmmm, unless they make different hardnesses for those flexible parts, you couldn't adjust air pressure for racing... bu7t I guess thats all R&D