Review: Amerityre flat-free (tubeless) tire technology

[markthurst100]

and basically you say basically way too much,  basically.

[neotoy]

@markthurst100 Glad someone finally noticed, it's not easy working the word 'basically' into every sentence.

[raindog951]

I had the UK version in the 90's. It was Ok in the Summer, but in the Winter they became ROCK hard in icy conditions. I hope the new solid tyres have improved this.

[DJfresh102]

can u plz plz answer my quastion do they maek for bmx bike and tell me how i can order them

[stopglobalswarming]

@DJfresh102 Yes, the 20' sizes are even less than the larger sizes. Google Amerityre, or see noflattires net .

[blasko229]

It looks like that site doesn't actually sell the tires directly, only to distributors. Where did you buy your tires? 

[neotoy]

@blasko229 At the time you could buy them directly through their website, although I'm pretty sure you had to call them and order over the phone.

[stopglobalswarming]

@blasko229 VVVVVV noflattires () net has the Amerityres

[FILMMAKERCHAP]

thanks for uploading this dude. i have just bought some "greentyres" from the 1990s era on ebay. They are the UK equivalent and are still in production...Im wondering what your ride is like as its supposed to be inferior to pneumatics (obviously as its hard)..whats the ride like?

[neotoy]

@FILMMAKERCHAP I didn't really notice a difference between the solids and my former pneumatic tires, but I think it may depend a lot on the terrain. Since I use my bike mostly for urban environments there's not a lot to notice.

[FILMMAKERCHAP]

@neotoy I think these tyres are ideal for urban use then in that case. I havent tried mine yet but I saw some 2nd user ones on ebay and basically the guy was annoyed with extra rolling resistance it gave. Since he is probably a more serious cyclist (as he was using a single speed 700c wheeled fixie) its likely that he would notice. I dont think I would, Hey imagine if they used kryptonics skater urethane for these wheels! they would be so fast!

[stopglobalswarming]

@FILMMAKERCHAP Amerityre and Nutech make some time-trialing versions in 700c, about $50-100 USD each, depending on model, also there are 27x1-- sizes available around $35

[animefan2k9]

i bought a solid rubber inter-tube from walmart. it rides like an overinflated tube, but i don't have worry about flats.

[stopglobalswarming]

There seem to be 2 major demerits to solid tires on bicycle rims: The lack of compression can stress spokes, leading to warped or flatted rims; and friction loss due to flex of the tire as it impacts the ground, compared to clincher or tubular tires.

I think with a heavy duty rim, this looks like an ideal product for desert dwellers, warehouse/industrial bicyclists, and people who just fool around on a bike instead of try to compete or ride fast.

[pandolin1]

Does this material grip the road, wet or dry, as well as properly compounded rubber? is the car or bike more liable to skid? Footprint? Compliance to the road's surface???

[SpaceCookie69]

great idea, how much are these?

[bodunchar]

Ah whats the #1 cause of flat tyres?

Improper maintenance - worn tyres and incorrect pressure levels!

Tubeless aren't they heavy? Personal choice I guess. Probably weigh more than a pump and repair kit, plus loose a degree of control, but then how much time can you save cos you dont have to repair in the field!

Thanks!

[neotoy]

@bodunchar I always ask the same question, and no one has a satisfactory answer: Why would you want to be shackled to maintaining something, when with a better design it can be maintenance free? Do people enjoy wasting their time on tedious chores? If so then why have an industrial revolution? We could all still be out there in the fields planting and harvesting by hand.

No repairs ever. That's my axiom.

[Amerityreman]

Wow, there are many strong opinions in this thread. There is also a total misunderstanding of Amerityre's various products and technologies. I appreciate neotoy's personal enthusiasm and interest in our products. It is very disrespectful and simply unfair to attack him with technical questions and misinformation. Almost none of the points I've read are accurate.

I am happy to answer anyone's specific questions.

Let's start over and form an intelligent conversation. Thank you-Amerityreman

[neotoy]

@Amerityreman Thank you for joining the conversation. If there are any specific points of misinformation you'd like to address, please feel free to reply to any comment.

Meanwhile, any news concerning the possible R&D of full sized, solid automobile tires using Amerityre technology?

[captinbugernuts]

European car manufacturers such as BMW have been fitting run flat tyres that very rarely blow out for some time. Maybe its time the Americans caught up?

[buckles10]

i live around desert and thers tons of goat heads i get flats allmost ever time. im goa get some of those.

[jebustheone]

SO this completely gets rid of the pneumatic system altogether (unlike the 'tubeless' UST tires). Basically like the solid child's bike tires?

I think this is an excellent idea; I rarely use my bike and when I do it is a 'spur of the moment' thing, soon to be ruined when I discover my tires are flat. I'd love to just grab my bike off the rack and go!

[Kamikazi2142]

my main concern is will i be able to replace them for cheap if i do end up breaking them? there is a lot of misery awaiting them, i can guarantee that, my only laugh from these tires, is they don't have the extreme trail blazers in mind. as from what you stated in the video, only the light biker is taken care of, us serious bikers are left in the rain. i think solid hard RUBBER, would be best, but that might not be enough either.

[Kamikazi2142]

you seem to be preoccupied with the camera half the time. i know that these tires are innovative, but i have a tougher time with tires on any vehicle, my luck, those tires would tear apart from my heavy mountain biking traits, so, if you could prove that they can handle a 45 degree downhill bonsai run with cobble stones and jagged rock, let me know, i had a fiber glass reinforcement along with tough rubber tread, and triple flat protection inner tubes, with slime.

[neotoy]

@Kamikazi2142 LOL, sounds like suicide to me. Only a real-world test would confirm if that's possible. I'm guessing that the tires would slip off the rims long before they would "tear apart". If rims and tires were designed in a rational and holistic way the bike would break before the wheels.

Bike wheels in general are very poorly designed, with virtually none of them being designed to handle the kind of scenario you describe. I think there are far more exciting ways to risk your life!

[sonyxploder]

I highly doubt these tires would outlast petroleum based ones if proper vehicle maintenance isn't performed. Also cars go quite a bit faster than bikes and also rack up miles pretty fast. Also im very doubtful these would work well in winter conditions.

[neotoy]

On what do you base this statement?

Polyurethane is a far more versatile material than rubber, it's also more robust. It outperforms rubber in every conceivable category. This is science and not speculation.

[sonyxploder]

I base it on the fact that the tire industry would never allow this to penetrate into the car world. There's too much money to be made with rubber tires and the rims needed for them. Have you thought about how hard it would be to get a tire like what your talking about on a car? Have you ever mounted car tires on rims? It would be almost impossible to get a diff kind of tire to fit on a normal automotive rim. Especialy when airpressure is what helps keep the tire on the rim.

[neotoy]

If it can be done at a small scale it can be done at a larger scale. TBH with something as simplistic as fitting a tire on a rim, it's pretty insulting to suggest that it would be challenging to solve such a problem.

Thinking of what humans have accomplished in other fields, landing on the moon comes to mind, it makes us all look rather pathetic that we're still driving around in vehicles that haven't changed significantly since the 1950s.

[sonyxploder]

@neotoy How is fitting a tire on a rim insulting? I mean think about it. Car tires are put through so much stress when in use, it would be hard to manufacture a tire that performs better, that doesn't use air and that stays on the rim when outside forces are applied. Even if those tires were made for cars, people would most likely need new rims just for those tires. If new rims weren't needed then surely every tire place would need new equipment to stretch the tire over the rim.

[sonyxploder]

I would also like to add that those tires are rates for low speeds. That alone makes them useless for cars. Also what if water gets in between the tire and the rim? It's a problem that could happen if people recycled their current rims. The torque of the engine would most likely be able to spin the rim.

[neotoy]

Entertain for the moment the idea that tires and rims as they are currently designed is a poor solution to a universal problem of reliable locomotion.

Creating a lower cost product that integrates tire and rim into a single recyclable product might be far more reliable. There are no rules saying that these things need to be a certain way - as long as key requirements are met - and polyurethane can meet and exceed those requirements if it's utilized in an intelligent way.

[neotoy]

BTW I agree w/you that the conventional tire industry will never let them break into the market. That being said..

It sounds like you're saying that the current model is too invaluable to fail, which is where I disagree. The way current rubber tires work is really a very poor solution; if upgrading to superior technology means re-thinking how tires are designed and re-tooling the industry, I fail to see how that's a bad thing.

Blow-outs, flats, these flaws are intolerable in the 21st century.

[sonyxploder]

luc59457 makes a good point with the amount of material needed to make them. Regular petroleum based tires can be recycled as well and made into re-tread tires or into rubber mats and other products. Personally i fail to see how the company that made these tires would even be able to penetrate the car tire industry. How much do you bike on average per year? How many car tires have blown up on you?

[neotoy]

Petroleum based tires require a fossil fuel industry and are not 100% recyclable like polyurethane. In reality only about 10% of rubber is recycled.

My parents were almost killed on the freeway when one of their tires blew out.

I haven't been biking recently due to the weather, but my tires are as good as new with several years of consistent use.

[sonyxploder]

There's a big difference between almost being killed and being killed. Were they exceeding the tires speed rating? How much wear was there on the tires? Were the tired wearing evenly? Were they inflated properly? I can guarantee that most tire blowouts are caused by the vehicle owner not perfoming the required maintenance. Cracks in the sidewalls can affect things, cause slow leaks.

[neotoy]

I see your point, but if blowouts can be prevented entirely then you remove that particular factor from the equation entirely.

Also I don't buy the maintenance argument. The whole point of labor-saving devices (like vehicles) is to avoid repetitive and tedious tasks and more more of the burden towards automation. That's the difference between progress and stagnation.

The need for constant maintenance is an indication of poor and short-sighted design.

[sonyxploder]

If you buy a good quality vehicle and take care of it, you will have a low maintenance vehicle. I do the maintenance on my own vehicle. It doesn't bother me to get my hands dirty, cut up, and greasy when performing maintenance. It's a good reason to have toons blaring while your working. Checking air pressure in tires doesn't take that long and it doesn't need to be done daily. It's something you can do once or twice a month.

[sonyxploder]

I've worked on quite a few cars and changed many tires. I know what to look for when im looking at my tires. It's something everyone should be able to do, and if they choose not to do it then they should have to deal with the consequences of their ignorance.

[neotoy]

"It's something everyone should be able to do" Why? Just because they are poorly designed?

Not to attack your belief system, but there are lots of people who have no desire or interest in maintaining a vehicle. I believe they should have the option and not be saddled with responsibilities that could be solved through technological innovations.

There are also people who are simply not mechanically inclined, or technically ignorant, putting them at a distinct disadvantage.

[sonyxploder]

Here's the thing, not being mechanically inclined and being technically ignorant are things that can be overcome. If people have no desire or interest in maintaining their vehicle, they shouldn't own one to begin with. If they want to own one, it's their responsibility to take care of their cars and keep them up to code. Have you ever heard of the saying " If you can't afford it don't buy it."? The same applies to cars. If you can't perform the maintenance don't buy one and take the damn bus.

[neotoy]

Don't misunderstand, I'm a strong believer in personal responsibility. But remember when people had to ride a horse or shovel coal just to get anywhere? How many people are expected to do those things today?

Technology evolved and now life is far less tedious. Do you think that's wrong? Or have you just become complacent with things that "work" most of the time?

[sonyxploder]

People have gotten fat and lazy. A little bending over and kneeling here and there won't kill them. Everyone who owns a vehicle is responsible for their vehicle. Life may be less tedious but it's gotten a lot for stressful compared to the horse and buggy days. If people would just take 10 seconds every once in a while to check for buldges on their sidewalls, that would most likely reduce the amount of tire blowouts that happen every year. Alot of things could be avoided if people weren't lazy.

[spokehedz]

@sonyxploder Your argument is a strawman. You are missing the entire point of a airless tire with your "Do basic maintenance" spiel.

You get no bulges, flats, blowouts, dryrot, or anything that could ever happen to the tires. So while yes, you SHOULD check your tires pneumatic--what if you didn't have to? That is the point of these tires.

The rolling resistance IS higher than a properly inflated tube-based tire. But it's a much more consistent feel because the tires don't heat up.

[sonyxploder]

@spokehedz I Think you're missing my point. It wouldn't work on cars you fucking retard. How would you fit a fucking solid tire to a rim hmmm? Also checking the tire preriodicaly would be best for any kind of tire so you can keep track of whats going on with them like tears or cracks and the like. Also cars don't use tubes you fucking noob they are tubeless.

[neotoy]

@sonyxploder 4 month delay between comments? Rims are fucking retarded, but whatever, the whole automobile industry is so backwards we'll be extinct before the industry comes to its senses. Technically a tire is a tube, specifically a tubular torus; as is any circular extruded construct with an air cavity inside.

[sonyxploder]

@neotoy Stop being such a retard and look at who posted before me you fucking cunt nugget. I mean really you have to be fucking stupid to not notice that.

[neotoy]

@sonyxploder I can reply to whoever I want. I was just correcting the obvious misinformation you included in your reply to spokehedz. You're the one who should stop being such a jackass and mouthing off at other people who commented on this video and actually had something constructive to say.

[sonyxploder]

@neotoy You were replying to me you fucking goof. Don't go harping on me just because im saying truth and i know what im talking about. Those tires might work on bikes but they won't work on cars and they will never replace rubber tires. You know im right but you just won't admit it.

[spokehedz]

@sonyxploder

Someone once said that heavier than air craft would never fly.

Someone once said that man would never land on the moon.

Someone once said that we would never need more than 640K Ram in a computer.

Someone once said that the world was flat.

Someone once said we would never run out of Bison.

All of those people have been wrong.

You just said that we would never ride around on airless tires in automobiles.

You will be wrong too. Just wait. Won't be long now. Look up tweel.

[sonyxploder]

@spokehedz The automotive industry is way to big and greedy, they would never allow such a thing to happen. Whats your solution to getting those tires on the rims and keeping then there hmmm?

[spokehedz]

@sonyxploder I already told you, a SPLIT RIM. Instead of a single solid rim for pneumatic tires, because they need a perfect seal, you have one that splits in half to put the tire on. They use these on forklifts now.

Or, as I also previously stated, you form the tire directly into the wheel. The Urethane is an expanding foam which means you simply put the wheel into a mold, inject the foam, wait for it to set and remove the finished wheel.

You are running out of arguments. I await your reply.

[sonyxploder]

@spokehedz Im not running out of arguments. Did you factor in the cost of all this? Developing everything needed like equipment, ways to mass produce the tires in a short period of time, and getting all cars switched over? With the way most americans act and think, they won't want to wait for their tires to set when they bring their vehicles in for servicing. Also for your "what if you never had another flat again? " comment, i've never gotten a single flat.

[sonyxploder]

Unlike most people i know to pay attention to the road and whats going on around me so i can spot broken glass, nails, and other things that could puncture my tires. Solid tires would just makes everyone stupid and even more ignorant of their tires/vehicles just like: ABS, traction control, AWD. People get used to that stuff and rely on it way too much and when it breaks on them they don't know how to handle their vehicle. Im fairly sure that these tires could never replace rubber tires 100%.

[spokehedz]

@sonyxploder Okay, good for you... I think you are the only person in america who has never had a tire go flat on them--otherwise the AAA wouldn't be getting over 2,000 calls a day for tire-related service calls. But, good on you for never having a flat tire.

I will agree with you that cars are too safe, which make people drive like morons and get into more accidents. But there is published scientific evidence to back that up, not just your anecdotal evidence that you get from who-knows-where.

[spokehedz]

@sonyxploder So what you are saying is that all the tire companies woulden't jump on the chance to sell billions of NEW AND IMPROVED tires to the general public, using cheaper materials, that are also GREEN (buzzword of the decade), and offer a way for the general person to never change their tires, requiring them to go to a service center for professional installation, which means repeat forced business?

I just don't see why you are arguing, unless you own a rubber-tire manufacturing comp.

[spokehedz]

@sonyxploder Wow... Are you angry or what?

"How would you fit a fucking solid tire to a rim hmmm?" You form it straight into the rim at the factory. Or, you use a split rim that bolts together... Like all the other vehicles that use airless tires.

I said tube-based tire one single time, and I meant any tire filled with air as indicated by the three other times I said pneumatic.

Nobody is saying 'never check tires' here, but what I am saying is what if you never had another flat again?

[vamperise]

my reason for giving u a low rating is i have seen their treads are not contusive to modern mountain bikers and their demands of their wheels or tires. i run stans no tubes sealed kenda nevagal 2.1 tires on a bontrager wheel and ive been running them for almost 4months now with no problems but good explanatory vid i just dont like the product

[neotoy]

Fair enough. You might consider contacting them with your input. If you're a hardcore biking enthusiast with a lot of knowledge they might be willing to incorporate your suggestions into future tire options.

[luc59457]

The main problem I see with this is grips can only be made so large, and once that is finished you have a bald, less safe tire.. The advantage, is no sudden and possibly dangerous flats.. I would still change them around the same amount of time as the standard for that relation. Unfortunately given that being said, their is a lot more material required for these tires and I question how worthy they are for that reason.

[corfrancais]

I have used amerityre tires for several years. In my experience they are a great product that work exactly as the company presents them. I suspect that some of the negative comments online are coming from pneumatic tire industry shills trying to discredit this technology. This is a new technology that differs significantly from the flat free solid core tires that have been sold in the past. I'm buying some more for a cool 4-wheel bike car I just bought, they'll probably arrive next week.

[ssargman]

Very Annoying when people use 'Um' when they talk I totaly hate it. FACK

[neotoy]

yeah, and I do it a lot. I'm much better at reading than at improv, lol. sorry.

[mufingoo]

this compant is going to get sooo much money off this product!

it's amazing no one thought of this before.

[lakemead00]

This company makes great products. I use them on my bikes and two wheel dollies. If you are into investing, the stock is a huge bargain right now too.

[charlessmyth]

I've been looking for a tyre like this. I run Specialized Armadillos on a full suspension bike, so the firmer ride quality won't be an issue, and although I get very few punctures, I would be happier with none, since you always seem to get a puncture when you least expect to get one and/or want one, to have to mend. Like yourself, it was irksome to have to put up with such hassle in the 21st century.

[ASRNTRGB]

I just got some 700x25s a few days ago....whew...and they are nice....I feel the road a bit more, but am also more aware because of this...thanx brah...I would never have got them if it were because of YOU NEOTOY

[neotoy]

Glad to help, have fun on the path!

[edgiann]

I think this company is going to be the next goodyear. An enviormentally friendly tire? Unbelievable. Calling my broker now!

[neotoy]

I think so too, but admittedly they're getting a pretty slow start and it may be many years before you start to see significant returns, definitely a long-term investment IMHO.

[0urGaia]

excellent

[ZenitRS]

I think they are too thin for mountain biking... and in a larger size maybe the weight would be a problem. Oh and the biggest problem I think is that you can´t choose your "pressure" depending on the conditions and terrain.

But for a more "urban" use they must be great. It´d be interesting for my ebike project...

[neotoy]

Another reason you may not want to use these tires for hardcore mountain biking is that they fit differently on the rims than normal tires and can potentially be bumped off the rims; although I've never had this happen personally. Additionally they come in a variety of sizes and tread types (as specified in the video).

[doggsshit]

I know it might sound stupid,

But I'd rather have a blow out, in which my wheel at least keeps turning, than get launched because of tire that gets jammed between the front fork and rim/brake.

I'm guessing that it is better to put your comment in with the description of the video.

[neotoy]

It's your choice of course. Although really there's no difference between a blowout (like what I experienced) and having the tire slip the rim, aside from with the second option you can just put the tire right back on. Just something to think about.

Just as a note, I've gone on some very rough rides, and as far as I can tell the tires have never even come close to slipping off.

[thecyclepath]

that is amazing i need a pair of these that being said i have two questions

1) are they heavy like when your riding do they feel heavy or di they feel like nromal bike tires?

2) are they hard to put on the rim so is it something i can do in like ten minutes or should i take them to my local bike shop and let them figure it out?

[neotoy]

1) They feel just like normal bike tires. It's closed-cell polyurethane so it can even be lighter than normal rubber based on the formulation.

2) Yes they are hard to put on, also the sizes are EXACT so you will most likely want to have the bike shop put them on (you may even need custom rims built for them, as did I)

Good luck!

[thecyclepath]

thanks for the advice ill talk to the bike guys next time im over there

[doggsshit]

If you needed to put on 'custom' rims, why do they have holes for valves?

[neotoy]

You can't get rims without valve holes. These are stock rims that are then custom modified to fit the exact specifications of the tire.

[AirToui]

thank you for sharing/informing this tire technology with us.

i hope i am able to purchase these and that they become more widely available in the near future

[AirToui]

how do i go about ordering these tires?

i've looked around their site and can't find anything about purchasing

[neotoy]

You will have to call them directly 1(800) 808-1268 x123 and ask if they still make them, if they do then you can set up an order. It was a few years ago that I got them, and as I said in the video I don't even know if they make them anymore, but I'm pretty sure that they do since they are still available in the UK.

[AirToui]

alright, thx ^_^

[AirToui]

oh, how much did it cost you at the time you bought them?

[neotoy]

They were actually really cheap, less than rubber tires at the time, I think like $14 each. Given that they basically last forever it seems like much more of a deal to me now.

[magellenproject]

"Vote with your money, it's the only language that big corporations like Michelin understand"

ILLUMINTI *COUGH* ILLUMINTI *COUGH* ILLUMINTI *COUGH*

LOL

[magellenproject]

I have just bought a pair of these of the Hancox site (the site that sells them online in the UK)

If it looks like it won't fit on your wheel don't panic, because you might find it easier to take it to the bike shop.

Then you will see that they have fit your wheel like a glove.

[senjisony]

Nice bike,man.