Michelin unveils airless tire - 9th Oct 2004 11:07pm
Michelin unveils airless tire
Reuters
PARIS -- Michelin unveiled an airless tire on Tuesday designed to weather tough road conditions in fast-growing countries like China and India.
Michelin said its "Airless Wheel" and "Tweel" tyres, which will be presented at the Paris auto show this week, were still at the concept stage but would hopefully hit the mass market in 10 years.
The tires, which Michelin hopes to adapt for motorcycles, cars and heavier vehicles, are non-pneumatic and made of elastic. That means they are better able to absorb shock, making for a smoother ride on often pothole-riven roads in less developed countries, it said.
"There is a robustness that is especially designed for fast-growing markets, like China and India, where the roads and infrastructure are not as well developed as ours," said Didier Miraton, Michelin's head of r&d.
Miraton said designs for future tires such as the Airless Wheel tended to use an increasingly wide range of materials, so Michelin would be less reliant on natural rubber, which dominates the tire industry.
Michelin, famed for the star ratings it gives upmarket restaurants, will also present its "Active Wheel" concept tire at the auto show, which opens to the press on Thursday and the public on Saturday.
Miraton said this tire would react better to road conditions and to turning corners, and would be able to operate via a cleaner electric fuel cell engine.
Reuters
PARIS -- Michelin unveiled an airless tire on Tuesday designed to weather tough road conditions in fast-growing countries like China and India.
Michelin said its "Airless Wheel" and "Tweel" tyres, which will be presented at the Paris auto show this week, were still at the concept stage but would hopefully hit the mass market in 10 years.
The tires, which Michelin hopes to adapt for motorcycles, cars and heavier vehicles, are non-pneumatic and made of elastic. That means they are better able to absorb shock, making for a smoother ride on often pothole-riven roads in less developed countries, it said.
"There is a robustness that is especially designed for fast-growing markets, like China and India, where the roads and infrastructure are not as well developed as ours," said Didier Miraton, Michelin's head of r&d.
Miraton said designs for future tires such as the Airless Wheel tended to use an increasingly wide range of materials, so Michelin would be less reliant on natural rubber, which dominates the tire industry.
Michelin, famed for the star ratings it gives upmarket restaurants, will also present its "Active Wheel" concept tire at the auto show, which opens to the press on Thursday and the public on Saturday.
Miraton said this tire would react better to road conditions and to turning corners, and would be able to operate via a cleaner electric fuel cell engine.