IMHO, I think they would look bad, plus they look like they would ride like crap. But hey for all the bad people out there, these would work for running from the cops. NO STOPPY!

 

LOL!

Hey - we wouldn't need that tire pressure monitoring system!

 

Weird .

 

There is nothing "radical new" about this design. Michelin has been working on this for about 10 - 15 years that I'm aware of.

This concept, when developed, certainly has potential. They could even eliminate the rim itself when you think about it.

The auto manufacturers would certainly like to be able to completely eliminate the need for a spare, for both weight and space reasons.

Potential problems:

1. In snow areas, the likelyhood of snow or slush getting into voids, causing imbalance, would be a real problem. Maybe some sort of outer cover (read "fake" sidewall) would eliminate that.

2. Gummint (specifically law inforcement!) would probably fight this because of spike strips becoming useless.

3. And, lastly... How the heck do you fill 'em with hydrogen?? What would the fools that believe in that do?

 

I think they look tricked out. And i would think that the ride would be smooth, and flowing. I'd get em, But i like to be different.

 

,,,,and all the minimart/gas stations would fight it, since they would lose all those quarters

 

you forgot to mention bent rims , terrible gas mileage. i'd like to know the conditions durring the pics , before i make these assumptions, but they look pretty flimsey. i used to change tires-was my job for a few years when i was younger.- they look like they will need a special machine to install them. there are plenty of ways to stop a car without spike strips. where do i sign up to test them for free?

 

I'm quessing those are only prototypes, and if they went on the market they would hopefully have some kind of sidewall attached.

Otherwise,, way too weird IMO

 

those pics are so old. Like the other guy said, they have been working on them for a very long time.

I think they look like crap.

 

Your correct. I worked on some of these back in the early 90's with Michelin and BFG.

These come around about every 5 years with a upgrade but still not perfected.

They would have a side wall as you could not leave them open in the real world. Michelin leaves the sides off to show how they work.

We may see a version of these somewhere down the line as they really want to eliminate the spare tires from cars and provide a tire that will not go flat.

The present run flats are heavy and stiff. Or even worse take special wheels in some cases.

Goodyear and Bridgestone also have similar tires in the works. All are working with the car MFG on run flats with light weight and low rolling resistance for the new electric cars.

Goodyear has their latest on the new Volt prototype.