No More Punctures...

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Just come across these:


http://www.pavementsucks.com/board/thread-Military...

These look like a cracking idea, especially for off roading...

What do you think?

Sorry if this is a repost, couldn't find anything in search!

[kambites]

I think it should have some kind of side-wall so you can't get things stuck in it.

[HellDiver]

http://www.michelin.com/corporate/actualites/en/ac...

They sucked 4 years ago, they still suck.

Imagine driving your Humvee over a dry river bed, and getting river pebbles stuck in the holes...severe unbalancing and pebbles becoming missiles at speed.

[Dracoro]

if there is some form of side covering/sidewall, is there any reason why this wouldn't work? I remember them being on some demonstration audi a few years ago, since it's not caught on, I assume there's good reason?

[TommyBuoy]

Just to echo above - with a protective side wall seem like a good idea in this situation but I don't know whether it was anygood at road holding.

Must be a reason it didn't catch on?

ETA: I meant to mean in an off roading sitiuation as opposed to the B road blast.

Edited by TommyBuoy on Monday 11th October 15:48

[V8mate]

Dracoro said:

if there is some form of side covering/sidewall, is there any reason why this wouldn't work? I remember them being on some demonstration audi a few years ago, since it's not caught on, I assume there's good reason?

You certainly couldn't have a solid cap over the side as those cells 'deform' as it goes over rough terrain.

[anonymous-user]

I have always wondered why we still have tyres inflated by air.

Serious question really, why don't manufacturers produce a tyre that looks like a 'normal' car tyre (same tread and sidewalls) but is in actual fact 'solid' and the interior portion is a foam or honeycomb arrangement that allows the same sort of give or movement that a correctly inflated pneumatic tyre would?

No more punctures, leaks or incorrect pressures.

I can only assume this is due to tyres needing different pressures inside them depending on the application?

[Glosphil]

Isn't that based on a wheel/tyre concept called the 'Tivoli' or something like that? There is a video of a Audi A4 fitted with similar wheels (but much lower profile rubber) being driven around a track and over a kerb.

[Red&WhiteMonkey]

Sidewinder wheels are cooler http://www.airtrax.com/video/

[thinfourth2]

HellDiver said:

They sucked 4 years ago, they still suck.

To be more exact they sucked on cars because of vibration issues

[jon-]

Glosphil said:

Isn't that based on a wheel/tyre concept called the 'Tivoli' or something like that? There is a video of a Audi A4 fitted with similar wheels (but much lower profile rubber) being driven around a track and over a kerb.

Tweels: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tweel

NinjaPower said:

I have always wondered why we still have tyres inflated by air.

Serious question really, why don't manufacturers produce a tyre that looks like a 'normal' car tyre (same tread and sidewalls) but is in actual fact 'solid' and the interior portion is a foam or honeycomb arrangement that allows the same sort of give or movement that a correctly inflated pneumatic tyre would?

No more punctures, leaks or incorrect pressures.

I can only assume this is due to tyres needing different pressures inside them depending on the application?

At a complete guess, whatever you replaced the air with would have to be some sort of magic compound to not deform or change in property over 25,000 of massive abuse.

Air can be replaced, and can't be deformed.

ETA: and weight.

Edited by jon- on Monday 11th October 16:08

[GT Kodiak]

BMW Tried them on an M3.

Lap times vs normal tires weren't too bad but they don't last.