AIRLESS TYRES
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hat a time to be alive. An expression appropriately used more frequently as the human race spits out new, advanced ideas, contemporary technologies and unique solutions. We are surrounded by luxury that our ancestors could never have imagined. Different concepts are popping up faster than anyone can keep up with. An almost ancient item of luxury that is often overlooked is our old friend, the tyre. Tyres form an integral part of our daily lives, yet to most of us they go completely unnoticed. Tyres are different from brand to brand, of course, but most of them usually consist of over 100 different substances. One of the main components is natural rubber, but tyres also include synthetic rubber, steel, nylon, polyester, carbon black, petroleum, sulphur, etc. Each substance plays a critical role in the overall purpose of the tyre. A tyre cannot function on these components alone, however. An additional component, not part of the material structure but integral to the workings of the tyre, is air. The wheel has been around since nearly the beginning of time and it has evolved from a solid piece of wood to a
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balloon-like structure. The added air provides a medium to allow expansion and contraction of the tyre regardless of what kind of material was used for making the tyre. Tyres are subject to extreme temperatures as well as large amounts of force. The air reduces the wear and tear caused by friction between the rubber and the rim. The main disadvantage of air in tyres is, naturally, the air escaping the tyre. Via a slow-puncture, wear and tear, or brute force. The latter has proved to be extremely dangerous. A burst tyre on a rough road has claimed many lives. In order to keep up with the “what a time to be alive” theme, Michelin Tyres jumped right in and went ahead and developed the first-ever airless tyre, called Michelin® UPTIS. UPTIS (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) is the manufacturer’s new airless mobility solution. It is difficult to explain the design. For simplicity’s sake: UPTIS has an outside rim of, basically, a “sheet of tyre” as well as an inner rim, also a “sheet of tyre”. Connecting the two rim sheets it uses reinforced plastic vanes or spokes (yes, think of a bicycle), bending or at an angle in the middle. These are highly flexible and allow for uneven surfaces. Naturally, the main feature of these tyres is that they will not have punctures or “flats”. Sidewall cuts are a thing of
