Airless tires and off-road

[Slapping_Rabbits]

So i guess airless tires are in the works. How do you think these would work off road? https://michelinmedia.com/michelin-uptis?utm_source=thisiswhyimbroke.com&utm_medium=referral

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[TheITGuy]

Without side walls, I can see it getting filled with rocks, sticks, mud, etc, and breaking.

 

[bgenlvtex]

Been in service for close to a decade on industrial equipment, high reach fork lifts, man lifts etc, they work well enough on equipment that weighs enough that ground pressure offsets reduced traction.

Lack of body ply deflection in off road application does however increase spin damage and chunking.

I don't think you'll see any widespread application in passenger/light truck market. Niche product largely designed for the "Look at me, cost is no object even if it's garbage" bunch of folks.

ETA: the last time Michelin was going to revolutionize the industry was their 365/390mm wheel diameters that they sold to Ford that failed spectacularly. They are almost certainly more valuable as collectors items these days then they ever were in practice.

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