Michelin's Revolutionary Airless Tires

[Joshuabrutl]

Never have to worry about a flat tire again would be the greatest thing ever..but how well would they handle under extreme weather conditions such as snow storms or wet pavement and gravel?

[4relevants]

10 to 15 yrs? but... I just saw the video?!

[CapitanoGUC]

makes mi tierd .....-/

[ayun16]

these tires, whether proper use and application in the streets of Indonesia that many holes?

[capsoval]

@mindzent

I work for a company that has a very good relationship with Michelin. Last time I was speaking with one of their developers I had brought up the Tweel and if they were still working on it. His response was that it works perfect, but it whistles so loud that there's no market for it except on low speed vehicles.

[annemieke480]

wat nou als er hele zware mensen in die auto zitten? XD

[DIExxENE]

@annemieke480

dan buigt het een klein beetje meer in? net als met normale banden?

idioot...

[annemieke480]

@DIExxENE Hoezo ben ik nou een idioot, het was maar een vraag :(

[DIExxENE]

@annemieke480

iedereen die een beetje wakker is of verstand heeft kon dat weten

[Khazar01]

A way to tell a cop with spike strip to f*ck off

[HawK047]

So many new inventions are coming out for almost everything, yet I still have to see much inventions replacing old methods. Technology is growing faster and faster, but if we wont put new technology to use, what use is it anyway?

[thijs700]

Dumpert

[247Countryboy1]

Vibration amd noise has to be horrible.

[panialga]

yep yep yep, I want to know if this could (help) survive an Agera R or Veyron SuperSport at top speed for prolonged time :P

[JWKessler]

I'm wondering how it would be in snow or muddy conditions. Junk could get caught in there, throwing it out of balance.

[lockheed22]

I"m sure it performs wonderful in the corners where all the force is inverted near parallel to the road surface...NOT

[General4nubis]

Looks like Bridgestone is starting to take the bull by the horns on this - Michelin better get on the ball or else find themselves left behind with nothing to show for all their research.

[SpeedVaper]

i think they would still make a large amount of money off these in highway speed vehicles. most people i know never wear a tire to its rated lifetime. but instead replace it in half that time because of poor alignments or wheel bearings that feather or bald the tire irregularly. i think the biggest problem would be keeping balance after going through any loose mud. a lot of stuff could get stuck inside those spokes

[cricket12ish]

ima just stay hellaflush

[AbominableHuman]

I can imagine this concept being put to use in smaller tires like some of the things shown here, but never for civilian vehicles (at least not marketed for mass consumption). I could see it on wheelbarrows and bicycles in a few years though...

[Eddytje1]

0:55 broken wheel lol

[Goronixz]

@Eddytje1 they broke it to show that you can still run on it dumb ass.

[Eddytje1]

@Goronixz i can drive with my normal tire when its flat so stfu smart ass

[Goronixz]

@Eddytje1 lol you're mad cause I was right. How cute.

[Eddytje1]

@Goronixz You work for michelin ? you sounds pretty autistic, Always reacting , with swearing.. grow up or u are autistic but thats fine, ive been hangin around with a autistic a year so np

[Goronixz]

@Eddytje1 lol, keep them coming. It's funny to see you rage.

[Eddytje1]

@Goronixz You where the one who kept raging ? Thats what i mean autistic people dont see what they doing xD

[Goronixz]

@Eddytje1 well I'm not autistic so I win this one. Have fun raging.

[TheScoutingSniper]

@Eddytje1 no offense but this comment of you makes me think that you have some sort of autistic disorder yourself. And I've known quite some (mildly) autistic peeps during my life.

[HawK047]

@Eddytje1 Oh look, a little retard kid that thinks its funny to call people autists. You're a sad, stupid little twerp, you know that? And this came from someone with "autism".

[Cuyanausul]

What about mud

[PhillieBRidin]

But......will it blend?

[jacobg1777]

Something that would have came out when there was no air in tires! Like back when the model T was being built! They had no air in the tires!! Why did it take them so freaking long to start thinking of this! We are going backwards in time back to having "NO AIR" in the tires!! I bet some guy 5 years ago thought it would be a great idea to make an airless tire!! Dumbasses!

[finsta77]

yeh hey uploaded 2006 its 2011 i never seen one how bout you??

[ThePantyDroper]

Whoever directed this really needs to get out from under their rock. This looks like it was filmed in the 80's.

[geoper2]

this will never work first reason is what mindzent said and second is that the design is wrong from the beginning

[dalesalsa]

And they call it a fucking TWEEL....? Man that sounds so fucking retarded..

[howsey182]

what is the quad style vehicle in the video???



[JasonsLawnCare1]

these would be perfect for electric cars we will all be driving in the future.

[Rubberdinghyrapids]

how the fuck did i end up here?

[Sekussu]

@ 1min .. Dope as fuck wheely.

[sushlet]

What the hell that bulldozer is baller as fuck

[MindzEnt]

2006? wow did they abandon this? theres no money to b made on this wheel so they probly chopped it

[MindzEnt]

@mfl002 what ment was that these tires are too good for a company to profit off... if they never go flat then you only need to buy them once. companies aint in the buissness to make peoples lives easier but insted to take as much money as they can from them

[MindzEnt]

@mfl002 im not here to teach you buissnes tactics.. look that up for yourself

[j49hawk]

@MindzEnt Amen to that

[dunhillsupramk3]

@MindzEnt a tire does not have to go flat for you to change them... i don't know about you but when the grip on my tires are worn down or the canvass of the tire start to show that is when i buy a new tire... they have only made a tire so you don't get a flat but wear and tear will still happen..

[chibraxial]

@MindzEnt

Programed Obsolescence.... they will use materials that will wear quicker than the ideal tires would.

[ThePantyDroper]

@MindzEnt But tire companies don't profit from flats. The tire shops do. If a tire comes apart or gets damaged %99 of the time it's covered under warranty. If anything michelin would make more money. Who doesn't want an airless tire.

[AnIronicSobriquet]

@MindzEnt The tire would still go bald...

[MindzEnt]

@AnIronicSobriquet if u knew anything about airless tires is that u can usually use them till the rim almost touches the ground... remember the bikes when u were a kid with the foam tires?? or forklifts that have solid rubber tires.. mad u can use those tires for the entire life of the forklift...

[AnIronicSobriquet]

@MindzEnt Forklifts and big-wheels don't go 55~65 mph daily... As amusing as that would be. :P

[MindzEnt]

@AnIronicSobriquet anyway, no ones saying they will last for ever, but like i told another dude.. m not here to teach dumb people shady buissness tactics, foe example, if medicine companies found a cure for the flu.. well half their fucking bussness would be gone.. they need people to stay sick to stay in buissness... but thats something morons like you dont understand..

[burningphoneix]

@MindzEnt It doesn't work that way. If you puncture one of these wheels, you still need to buy a replacement. Most wheel companies make their money from replacements due to tread fatigue, not flat tires. You're going to have to replace them sooner or later.

[MindzEnt]

@burningphoneix nothing is made to last nowadays bro... theres no profit in that. and these companies nowadays they design products so they dont last on purpose so u can keep buying

[TheSampeterson]

@MindzEnt no because they would still wear down!

[MindzEnt]

@TheSampeterson yeah sure but how much money would they loose out on flat tires and buldging tires from over inflating them... an airless tire that has special thick rubber, no flats, no buldging... just worn out rubber..its all about moving numbers...

[CH4madness]

@MindzEnt I want you to re-read what you just wrote....A wise man once said, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and look stupid than to open your mouth and eliminate all doubt."

[MindzEnt]

@CH4madness well theyre typical tactics all buisnesses use to actually stay in buisness.. i was actually amazed that many product we use today are specifically designed to only last a certain amount of time for the sole purpose of going out and buying that product over and over again... look it up man...

[dontBugly]

@MindzEnt Doesnt mean that they won't melt.

[shadesofbluee]

@MindzEnt You're overlooking tread wear. Tires are mainly replaced because of tread wear and this would still be their driving market. The only change would be that they'd make money off RETREADS, like they do with semis and urethane honeycomb spacers that have exceeded the recommended amount of millage. Because there's no way in hell a urethane spacer that is constantly under stress will outlast your average high millage vehicle.

[Lolavsluigi]

@00:50 that front wheel is broken , am I right ?????

[zackduellman88]

fuck the twheel



[BlindInTexas911]

Yep....lame assed promises of better tires. I'll bet the Tweel never passed a single 'curb check' test.

[Cr3ativity]

The design is impressive, but there are flaws in every design. Suppose you were driving on terrain or a construction site and a rock happens to get jammed in between the acrylic spokes. Apart from possible wheel imbalance while in rotation, there is also a potential for the acrylic spokes to malfunction. Then again, maybe Michelin is simply displaying the mechanism, whereas the marketed version of this tire will be enclosed...

[machippy]

@Cr3ativity there is a cover that is applied to the outside . They just dont show it here in the early experiments

[daftrok]

10 to 15 years? DAMMIT CMON!

[doesthecowmoo]

@daftrok this vid is 5 years ago

[daftrok]

@doesthecowmoo ....5 to 10 years? DAMMIT CMON!

[JMJMTJMJM]

発想は面白いと思います。

耐久性や乗り心地を体験してみたいです。

[doesthecowmoo]

@JMJMTJMJM i strongly agree

lmao

[gsxellence]

so how will this fit on 24-30" Rims :) (Pun intended)

[Specialized1989]

Coming to a tire store near you, the only hitch is, you're going to shell out a solid 5k for a new set of tires.... AWEESSOOOMMEEE

[MultiSinoda]

shoulda call em T3 tank track tires

[proaudiohd]

Being supported by the composite 'spokes' means the tire doesnt flex side-to-side around corners like an pneumatic tire. That would improve handling a great deal without sacrificing ride quality since it still absorbs bumps and potholes. Plus you don't have to worry about air pressure. Great idea. I heard the problems are noise and cost. Guessing they will put a flexible (non structural) sidewall on there, to keep debris out and noise in.

[taclow123]

new way to stop robbers on this wheels, throw a knife lol



[TheCappilla]

This would be nice, but I don't feel like buying new rims every time I drive over a speed bump.

[compdude47]

I hear they're loud as hell

[Tunerboy1990]

shit ima be a old ass fart by the time they come out.. give me a prototype for my tuner cars.. i wana have some fun with these comps..

[InterspeciesErotica7]

Has anyone driven on a tire with a very low air/PSI(not a flat)? The sidewall gets chewed up. What do u think is eventually gonna happen with this concept? What happens when snow gets stuck in the tire? That's gonna be one hell of a vibration. This will never be put into mass production.

[wrestleman64]

@InterspeciesErotica7

hey dumbass the reason they dont have sidewalls is so u can see what they look like. damn i bet u felt smart out smartin the people at michelin. before they go to mass production they will have sidewalls

[InterspeciesErotica7]

@wrestleman64 - You must not know alot about tires and/or the material they are consist of. Sidewall solves the snow issue but what about the integrity of the materials, thread wear(every vehicle isn't the same), potholes(rim damage), and cost ? People don't want to replace their tires every 5k-10k miles.

Mensa member, you are not :)

[shibbs07]

@InterspeciesErotica7 - Does anyone else see the irony in this ' Mensa member ' spelling tread wrong? "This will never be put into mass production." Apparently an open mind isn't required by Mensa either. It's still in high speed testing, which usually means addressing any significant problems that arise.

[InterspeciesErotica7]

@shibbs07 - When did I mention I was a Mensa member? This is a concept from 2003 or 2004. That should be enough of evidence. People can be open minded and know science.

[shibbs07]

@InterspeciesErotica7 - One month ago in a reply to wrestlman64 is when you mentioned it. Bragging about intelligence then sounding unintelligent makes you look silly. Concepts can sit on the shelf for years waiting for a little advance in technology that can make the concept viable. And your last sentence makes no sense as a response to my comment. I was using sarcasm when i said an open mind isn't required by mensa; translation - saying it CAN'T be done makes you look close minded.

[xTheDeathSaintx]

TEN TO FIFTEEN YEARS?????? FUCK THAT SHIT GIVE ME THE PROTOTYPE

those cops arent gunna outrun themselves

[ChuddleBuggy]

They need sidewall/s. Or else, how they gonna handle hard braking and acceleration?

[j0k3r9696]

i can imagine in 10 to 15 yrs. " 'old man voice' when i was young we used to put air in those tires "

[camaroman101]

wonder how much these would cost? finally a tire that is stab-proof!

[jimmayl1]

2011, still not around :P

[ForfeitKhadgar]

@jimmayl1

And could replace conventional tires in 10 to 15 years.

Video was posted in 2006

[ganaschico]

@jimmayl1 10-15 years...

[awesomeness1qaz]

@jimmayl1 he 10-15 years...

[signbrat01]

what the helll...... how you supposed to do with this in the snow?????? ever tested it yet?

[ericpinter29]

to bad michian tires suck

[jsaulgodoy]

i wana see if it can survive a burn out or slamming on the breaks..

[KarstonLikesMustangs]

1:30,

yeah that Audi is definitely a high speed vehicle.

[joeheng80]

Spike strips will be passe, but not nets! hahaha...

[Jaket2000]

But the wheel is soo much better! wait untill somthing gets cought in the wheel.

[heyshutupyou]

@Jaket2000 a flexible cover would solve that issue. besides that, its incredibly hard to have something make the gap into the spokes when the wheel is rotating.

[lipersd]

vlw americanos enfim usando a inteligência a serviço do bem comuno e não para War.

[NizzBomb69]

the twheel? come the fuck on...

[VIDEOZAL]

I have just one question: WHERE CAN I BUY IT?

[sweettooth13013]

@rednoseroxy how's 'bout a nuclear fallout?

[rednoseroxy]

lol, what a joke.. if any of you ever think you'll se this in the next 50 years you're trippin... theres no fucking way major tire manufacturers are going to let go of the billion dollar rubber tire market. Besides, they've had 100,000 mile compounds for decades, you just wont ever see them cause they aren't gonna give up that money. Among other things you'll also never see is a cure for cancer, or vehicles that are truly energy independent... though we have the technology.

[clanangus]

@rednoseroxy I am not pretty sure. Think this: If you create the cure for cancer, the only way to earn money with your creation is to use as a medicine, even if you got your life threatened. That would revolutionize the entire system, rushing other industries to create a cure for themselves. The best medicine would win the "war". As in this creation, others factories will try to create another solution for the same problem, and everybody will have to choose.

[Maniakq1]

@rednoseroxy you're definitely right about the medicine and shit, most likely there is already a cure for a lot of viruses but they don't want to show it to the public cause they make trillions off the bs medicines....but since these "tweels" have been shown...i think they're gonna cost a shit ton more than regular tires AND actually come out next 5-10 years.

[rednoseroxy]

@Maniakq1 Hey man, I appreciate your optimism, but sorry, you're never gonna see em.... They're saying 10-15 years in the video... Why not NOW? They're here, in this video...

The "EXPENSE" of shit is a goddamn SCAM. It's just what people will pay... Average Hardly Drivenson is 20k...For about 10k you can have a Hyundai Accent with 4 doors, 4cyl engine, auto trans, full interior, radio, air conditioning, heat, 5 wheels and tires, 4 brakes... Costs wayyy more to manufacture, yet cost 1/2 as much

[ChrisLuxembourg]

....And what's in a case of a bald tire??? Should I continue driving on the plastic spokes and later on the brake disc???

[TheJimineycricket]

@ChrisLuxembourg lol :)

[JaredProject]

what is the atv looking thing at 1:22 ??

[tub88vang]

great now I could out run the cop no worried about spikes strips YES!!!!!

[emanon86]

Tyres, NOT tires !

[queenmessican]

well this was uploaded 4years ago...so that means we'll have these in 6 to 11 years? hurrrrrrrrrry. i got a stupid flat tire today :(

[showbizvil]

How comfortable of a ride can you get out of this?

[Mikemc]

10-15 years? That's like a jail sentence! I want these damn things now

[nandiito]

They seem to be soft, but in a little hit, bump or even a crash, the rims are gonna break or damage

[krangis]

it'd be better if there was still side walls, which im sure they'll do that. see thru just looks wacky, and would suck in snow

[mrholeshot1]

a.52 u can see on the cat that its rectangled FAILLLLLLLLLLLL

[clkclkboom04]

what would that be like in snow, wouldnt the dead space between the wheel and tread just pack full?

[girlsdrinkfeck]

dickheads , its spelt tyres

[waynep12398]

go back to Britain, TIRE has been used for over 300 years. Go ride a failboat.

[girlsdrinkfeck]

i am in britain you uneducated twat

[krangis]

imperialism lives! hahahahahahahaha

[girlsdrinkfeck]

wtf u on about?

[SANTAnoob007]

@waynep12398 Actually, there werent any tires 300 years ago. tires were made in the 1890 decade and before that....wooden wheels. just sayin

[Deniz1923]

If it lasts very long, then how do michelin plan to survive without charging 10.000 $ for a set of tires ?

[Ryance85]

@Deniz1923 @mopar32110

WOW you sure are a marketing guru lets see if they have the only design and patent for this wheel then that means they own the entire market share . WOW idiots

[kasea150jim]

@Deniz1923 allot of people buy it

[mopar32110]

umm how are you supposed to install those? and what happens when the holes get filled with mud or snow? interesting concept but not practical

[Sanyey]

@mopar32110

U got a really interesting point there.. never even thought about that :OOO (i mean what happens if someting gets into the holes)

[raven185]

Fuck this. Where is my flying car, science?

[psp10004]

@raven185 *points at a small airplane* There!

[pings1989]

10 to 15 years but i cant wait that long

[SwordPlay2]

yes but can you put spinners on it

[riveromsd]

piece off shit!!!!!! fuck you michelin!

[razorflown2]

SATAN ! ! ! ! !

[CoasterCloud]

Does this mean that some gas stations won't have to charge 25 cents for air for your tires? How will the gas stations survive? Just kiddin'.

[FragaGeddon]

I'd like to see what happens to it when it gets all packed with snow and ice.

[FragaGeddon]

I think the guy was making the bobcat bounce on purpose though.

[xxbondsxx]

yeah i dont know why that bobcat was going all over the plce

[fizzyjennings]

"We as consumers" ?? Fuck you Michelin!

[Waxthumper]

Talk about re-inventing the wheel, they all sound psyched up about it too don't they? The applications are exciting.. He looks excited alright.

[doctaword]

I don't see any point of this.

[cyphi1]

maximum speed 40 miles per hour

[reap62]

it seems like a very practical low speed design but i wouldnt do the indy 500 on them

[FragaGeddon]

Well no more slashing tires. Just when I was starting to have fun.

[Aprilshowersss]

looks like you can just cut the ribbons and essentially slash the tires that way

[JUKIO01]

i dont like it, look gay, you can have rims

[ICTT21]

ok, you keep your air tires then.

[jcobaltss2005]

im not to sure those polyurathane spokes are gonna hold up well when you spin out...like a snowmobile track when it catches a rock or even a bump, it folds in on itself and your fucked

[monkeipeg]

Looks wimpy

[jtreign9097]

BRING ON SPIKE STRIPS MUAHAHHAHA

[zecnobot]

lol true

[65buickriv]

whats that 4 wheeler thing ? its fuckin awsome. oh, and in 15 years when the tweel is at its prime, we will prob have floating cars, just throwin it out there.

[crazycars2]

i believe you are refering to the 'bobcat'

[somthinoriginal]

I think he asking about the ATV/quad looking thing.

[jolney27]

The 4 wheeler thing is a Segway Centaur.

[hazaelox]

cant drift on those.

[mshekleton]

why not?

[jakejjs]

i'm pretty sure the michelin engineers weren't sitting around thinking "how can we please the drifters?" when they designed these.

[sendyoshit]

15 years!!?

Now police spike strips cant stop me

[geetarwanabe]

no they have new forms, its called the net or something. its basically a metal net which when you run over it , it gets tangles around the wheels stopping the car instantly. much more efficient and safer than spike strips

[NeroKoso]

That is true.

[CptDieHard]

Cant see them been used to replace low profile tyres.

[BinaryReaper]

Awesome! Too bad we won't be using tires in a few years ;)

[FireBall14678]

i wanna see someone "try" to drift with these

[Sasuke0245]

pffft!no way!

[inhumangeorge]

give me a set ill see how they go in a burnout!

[funstuffisreallyfun]

my dad works for rockwell automation and i hear him talking about the tweel all the time

[JTyler52]

There pretty good ivention but as of taking the regular tires place I dont think so. Yea it can hold up those cars and stuff but what about loaders and semi trucks that can be 50+ tons, will it get the job done? will it be able to take uncontroled slides easier without failing? and then again no more burnouts :(

[ckoc47]

Nice design but will it make a good swing? I don't think so. How about a boat dock bumper?

No air tire for Airheads!!!!!!!

[koolaidguy23]

you'll never have to worry about spike strips again