Team-BHP
(
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)
Michelin introduced its airless tyres, called Uptis back in 2019 in partnership with General Motors. The Michelin Uptis is said to be an alternative to the conventional pneumatic tyres, offering better durability and is less prone to mishaps.
The company brought prototypes of the airless tyres to the recently concluded IAA in Munich, Germany to have its first public demo. A set of airless tyres were fitted onto a MINI electric hatchback, with Michelin allowing the public to take the car for a small drive and get a first-hand experience of the Uptis.
The Uptis airless tyres are said to be the first step taken by Michelin to meet its aim of using 100% sustainable materials by 2050. The company also unveiled their first tyre made of 46% sustainable materials at the IAA.
The Michelin airless tyres have been in development for a couple of years now. With the first public demo done, Michelin is now on course to bring the Uptis airless tyre to the market by 2024.
Link to Team-BHP news
What might be the disadvantages of these tires?
High initial cost?
Harsher ride quality compared to tubeless tires?
Good tech! But technical problems aside, the main problem I see with this is rodents making these their homes and chewing them up from the inside! :Shockked:
Wouldn't the failure of even one of those spoke-like supports (between rim and tread) decrease the load bearing capacity in that region of the tyre leading to a cascading failure of more spoke-supports and eventually the entire tyre?
Stiffness also seems like an issue, refer front wheel of the Mini in the photo. What about wind drag and the risk of stuff getting caught in the space between the spoke-supports.
Quote:
Originally Posted by batterylow
(Post 5151375)
Is this not a very old concept, again from Michelin.
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Exactly, that's why I searched and posted 2 days back in an old (2005)
thread.
As that post didn't contain any photos and as it wasn't a new thread (trend in last few years), no one commented on it. Sorry for going bit off-topic.
These tyres need a sidewall for sure.....
Problems in India -
- Rats
- Dust and mud getting stuck in those gaps
Few more details:
1. Will have sidewalls on the production versions
2. "Uptis" stands for "Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System"
3. Initially meant for performance cars and/or commercial vehicles
Source.
And the demo video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql0Mkr3dwNU
Let me don the hat of a doubting Thomas. Does it need a different type of wheels for this tyre to fit in?Won't the mud, stones, rubble etc get stuck in those and affect the balance of the tyre? Rodents are a real threat too.
For India, we need to wait and see how it unfolds. Hope this doesn't go the RFT way too(in indian context).
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