Is this the future of bicycle tyres?

[Alex P]

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

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.......

[Ian A4size]

I'm more of a conti person myself- John Conti! Remember him?

[-Adam-]

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...

[kieran]

er, what about varying tyre pressure for different load/surface/weather conditions??

[Rob C]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7gANJWRWIs[/youtube]

[kieran]

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

[Andrew G]

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.

[adrian]

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

[Richard (Apples)]

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

[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.

[Grahame]

[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.

[MJ_1993]

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.

[Rob C]

[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.

[Andrew G]

They haven't fallen off yet Rob.

[-Adam-]

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?