[arnabchak]

A very innovative idea but cant stop thinking that this technology was used in am 32 year old Sunny Cycle(when I was 2 and learning to ride the cycle).

This cycle used the rubber tyres(without the need to fill any air and has good enough to last a few years with a lot of abuse!!)


(Pic for representation only)

[jinojohnt]

1. The spokes should be soft enough to cushion when driving through a pot hole.
2. The spokes should be hard enough not to bend during braking.
3. The spokes should be hard enough so that the outer treads also rotate when the 'hub' rotates.
4. The spokes should be hard enough to withstand the weight of the vehicle. Rubber is known to have tensile strength (which is put to use in an air-filled tire), but it is difficult to achieve good compressive strength with thin rubber strands/plates.

This is the reason why this technology is currently available only for slow-moving carts. All the best to Michellin, for a technological break-through to make this suitable for fast moving cars

[iamahunter]

Originally Posted by arnabchak

A very innovative idea but cant stop thinking that this technology was used in am 32 year old Sunny Cycle(when I was 2 and learning to ride the cycle).

This cycle used the rubber tyres(without the need to fill any air and has good enough to last a few years with a lot of abuse!!)

Attachment 1310919
(Pic for representation only)

These are traditional wheels, except tyre completly made of rubber.
Imagine the weight of the tyre for a motorcycle/car completly made of rubber.
I think that would be very heavy, infact a lot heavier than our traditional air filled tires.

Now, the technology Michelin is working on is a very different one.
Do notice the type of spokes used by them.
Now thats the magic. "Flexible Spokes"

[abhishek46]

Wow what a design, but i am really wondering how effective it will be in off road or rural conditions where some stones or mud accumulates in those gaps?

[blue_pulsar]

How will our cars handle through a tight corner? I doubt the cornering capability of these wheels. I would say airplanes and earth movers might benefit from these.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by blue_pulsar

How will our cars handle through a tight corner? I doubt the cornering capability of these wheels. I would say airplanes and earth movers might benefit from these.

From the opening post:

Michelin has not designed the Tweel for use on regular automobiles yet. Currently, the technology has been developed only for skid-steer loaders and certain John Deere lawnmowers.




Also, i think this is sort of like the spoked wheels from before, where the tensile strength of the spoke was used. Just that here it's used to a much greater degree.

[SDRam]

I think that I had read about this technology and it already has been incorporated in the US military vehicles.

Here's the link(searched for it now - it is not the original i had read - maybe it was on net only but long back)

http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/news/...s-airless-tire

This was done by polaris on their ATV's for the US military.

[sumeethaldankar]

I was wondering if this was to become common on passenger cars maybe someday, cops in the US won't be able to stop criminals in cars using spike strips .

[jinojohnt]

Originally Posted by mayankk

Also, i think this is sort of like the spoked wheels from before, where the tensile strength of the spoke was used. Just that here it's used to a much greater degree.

The 'bicycle type' spokes use the tensile strength of the spokes so that the bicycle 'hangs' on the upper spokes (i.e, the hub hangs on the spoke from the top of the rim). For this to work, the rim has to be rigid (without bending). The Tweel tyres do not have a rigid rim, hence the 'bicycle spoke' concept would not work here.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by jinojohnt

The 'bicycle type' spokes use the tensile strength of the spokes so that the bicycle 'hangs' on the upper spokes (i.e, the hub hangs on the spoke from the top of the rim). For this to work, the rim has to be rigid (without bending). The Tweel tyres do not have a rigid rim, hence the 'bicycle spoke' concept would not work here.

Hmm.
Good point. Didn't notice that.
Though the hub is rigid, but the rim ain't.

[ankur_shar]

The tyre has lot of flaps. I wonder if they increase drag or resistance under wet muddy roads condition, as wet mud or water will flow through the flaps and oppose rotation.

[turbospooler]

IMHO, the Tweel will only be commercialised for the commercial segment.
The main reasons are that:
1) The cost of the entire lifecycle of regular tyres (like the replacement costs, puncture repair costs and downtime due to punctures) can be extracted from the commercial operator than a personal user.
2) The replacement market which makes the biggest contribution to any tyre manufacturer's kitty will be vanished if this application is commercialised for cars. They certainly wouldn't want that!
3) As shown in the videos, the Tweel simply locked when there was an excessive load rested on the ground. We can consider it as a braking scenario and this lock-up will simply make the vehicle slide. ABS ineffective and hence unsafe.

Nonetheless, I hope to see the application for off-roading

[SnakemanJohny]

When making these airless wheel-tyre combos for regular cars to travel at high speed, Michelin will have to cover up the spokes to reduce drag. The same will be necessary for off-road use so that mud does not accumulate in between the spokes, or loose pebbles and stone chips do not get stuck there, thereby increasing weight as well as reducing flex, not to speak of possible damage.
But these and other issues like high-speed cornering ability will be sorted out, I feel, before they offer the "Tweel" for general purpose. They will be very costly to begin with, till the patent expires and all tyre makers switch over to this new technology.

But I would still feel secure with a stepney !

And yes, all 'wheel showmanship' will die with the pneumatic tyres -- alloys and such.

And Indian ingenuity will find a way to retread them, even if not intended by the manufacturers !

[iamahunter]

I may get banned for asking this.

Once this wheel comes out for use in cars,
what would we post in "The official alloy wheel show off thread" section?

All cars will have a similar looking wheel.

This is good but its going to be boring.

Please make some interesting looking spokes Michelin.