The “Tweel” was first announced in January 2005.
Michelin’s Tweel is in production and available as an enhancement for future iBOT™ mobility systems. Invented by Dean Kamen, the iBOT™ mobility device has the ability to climb stairs and navigate uneven terrain, offering mobility freedom impossible with traditional wheelchairs. Additionally, Segway LLC’s Concept Centaur, a prototype that applies self-balancing technology to a four-wheel device, has also been equipped with Tweel to increase its performance potential.
Beyond these first real-world applications, Michelin has additional projects for Tweel on construction skidsteers and a variety of military vehicles. The most intriguing application may be Michelin’s early prototype Tweel fitment for passenger cars. The mobility company released video of promising Tweel performance on an Audi A4.
That is just cool…. I assume they’d be safer too because they are less likely to blow out….
Pirelli designed airless tires some 20+ years ago. In fact they were very low pressure but could run quite happily with no pressure at all. They also gave outstanding road holding. The problem was that they needed special wheel rims, and no car maker wanted to risk switching to a wheel rim for tires made by only one company.
Ooops, meant to add that this Michelin tire apprears to need special rims too, although that’s not clear from the video. If so, it could run into the same resistance from car makers, unless other tire makers are allowed to licence the technology.
So – extra storage?
special or no special rims, that tire is too cool to be missed!
I do hope you understand, that the Durability of Plastics, is a Bithch.
Running ON the road it will gather heat, ALOT of heat. Being BLACK it will gather MORE heat….
How many Plastic pasts Under your car hood, seem to break DOWN after about 5-10 years, for no reason…Parts, that IF they were metal or other material, WOULDNT break down, or need replacing.
There are a couple cars on the market, that Get great gas mileage, but for some reason, after a time, something changes, and it decreases and acts sluggish, and NO ONE can fix it?? Its a little plastic piece that fails.
Who has seen METAL fuel injectors?? Outside and inside.. I got them on my 20 year old car. AND they STILL work.
How will cops end high speed chases if spike strips and bullets to the tires are no longer effective. This, coupled with previous failures to get manufacturers to use the special rims makes me skeptical at best, but hopeful.
What the heck? I asked my Dad when I was a little kid why tires were not solid instead of full of air. Do I get a cut of the profits?
It’s an A6, not at A4. Sheesh!
10,
There have always BEEN solid tires…
There are a few problems..
1. They Weigh to much, you can add a GOOD 1000lbs to the car.
2. Speed, solid tires create more Heat, and expand, when you drive faster.
3. Durability…They do last, and last, IF you keep a decent speed. But If you go fast, and have a 90+F degree day, you will heat them up INSIDE and it will destroy the tires.
So, they made Puncture proof tires, which were rigid, and still had AIR inside…But the Ride is terrible.. They dont Bounce, or flex with pot holes/rail road tracks/Anything…
#11. It IS an A4. B6 gen which means 2002-2005 model years. Just look at pictures of the car vs the A6. The tail lights and headlights are the biggest giveaway.
Aside from eliminating flats, this tire technology also may make trucks handle better and sports cars ride smoother.
Normally, the sidewall aspect determines the stiffness of the tire. A low profile tire means better cornering but less dampening for bumps. The opposite on balloon tires. Hence, Corvettes have low aspect and Hummers have high aspect.
With a tweel, they should be able to tune the lateral stiffness while retaining the vertical dampening of a high aspect tire. Performance and ride quality for everything should increase.
I can’t wait for a truck that handles like a sports car both on and off the road. I just hope they figure out how to keep mud out of the tweel. Imagine the balancing issues if one side fills with mud.
#8. plastic breaks down, yes. first of all, i would assume these are rubber, just like tires are made of today. are you suggesting we make tires of metal? i’m sure that would produce a great ride. it’d be about as smooth as rolling a filing cabinet through a gravel lot
15…
Poly Urathane….
Listen to the FIRST minute of the Video….
Now go home and suck on your sudo meat..