Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

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Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Alex P » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:49 pm

SEE THROUGH TIRE

Radical new tire design by Michelin.

The next generation of tires.

They had a pair at the Philadelphia car show

[img]http://uk.geocities.com/alexprotasiuk/image001.jpg[/img]

These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon.

The bad news for law enforcement is that spike strips will not work on these tires.

This is what great R&D will do, and just think of the impact on existing technology:

A. no more air valves...
B. no more air compressors at gas stations...
C. no more repair kits. ..
D. no more flats...
E. Bugger to get the mud out if you go off road :shock:

These are actual pictures taken in the South Carolina plant of Michelin.

[img]http://uk.geocities.com/alexprotasiuk/image002.jpg[/img]
[img]http://uk.geocities.com/alexprotasiuk/image003.jpg[/img]
[img]http://uk.geocities.com/alexprotasiuk/image004.jpg[/img]
[img]http://uk.geocities.com/alexprotasiuk/image005.jpg[/img]
[img]http://uk.geocities.com/alexprotasiuk/image006.jpg[/img]

Its getting close to 1st April though....... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Ian A4size » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:15 pm

I'm more of a conti person myself- John Conti! Remember him?
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby -Adam- » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:09 am

They really look quite amazing!

End of the spare tyre, no problems with air pressure so constant resistance. Meaning less emissions from drivers who don't care or know about tyre pressure. Like mentioned less need for air compressors at stations etc. A real potential ''green'' tyre.

Perhaps they can have their tread replaced also? The perfect minimised waste, sustainable tyre. Can you tell all they teach me at Uni is sustainability yet!?

Would require a whole new generation of rims for bycycles of course, but I'm all for puncture free cycling... Surely it's got to happen. I recently had a lecture on the increasing versatility of modern plastics and this is yet another example. Interesting stuff, you may even see bridges constructed from plastic in the near future...
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby kieran » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:37 am

er, what about varying tyre pressure for different load/surface/weather conditions??
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Rob C » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:48 am

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7gANJWRWIs[/youtube]
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby kieran » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:03 am

just thought also when thread wears out do you need to change the whole wheel??
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Andrew G » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:13 am

They had some early proto-type tyre like these for MTBs at the cycle show a couple of years ago. Think they could work for MTBs but no good for road tyres - too narrow, variable pressures etc.
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby adrian » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:23 am

[quote="Ian MunneryA1size"]I'm more of a conti person myself- John Conti! Remember him?

John Conteh? Certainly do - he seemed to be everywhere for a while. Him and Charlie Magri.
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Richard (Apples) » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:55 pm

[quote]just thought also when thread wears out do you need to change the whole wheel??


Just get a new car dont you ? :lol: :wink:
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Andrew G » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:42 pm

Is it just me who's a tad concerned by the wording in the advert/blurb - deformable wheel - not sure I want one of those on my car.
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Grahame » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:44 pm

[quote="Andrew G"]Is it just me who's a tad concerned by the wording in the advert/blurb - deformable wheel - not sure I want one of those on my car.


All current car wheels are deformable - if you hit them hard enough. The only ones I can think of that wouldn't be are the carbon fibre ones that Citroen put on the SM in the early 1970s. Carbon fibre (usually) shatters before it deforms - cue somebody posting a photo of a deformed rather than broken carbon fibre bike.
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby MJ_1993 » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

Cant get the video at school. Are these the ones with air bubbles? I read about this in the independent prior to last years tour.
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Rob C » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

[quote="Andrew G"]Is it just me who's a tad concerned by the wording in the advert/blurb - deformable wheel - not sure I want one of those on my car.



If my car budget were as immense as yours this is something I'd also be concerned about...

:D
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby Andrew G » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:30 pm

They haven't fallen off yet Rob. :D
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Re: Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

Postby -Adam- » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:33 pm

Funny how a few of you seem to be very much scared and un-trusting of new technology.

I suppose you were all very much apposed to pneumatic tyres a few years ago too huh? :wink:
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