Through the years, there have been some beautiful rims spinning on Silverados, Camaros, and Blazers rolling down the street in style. Michelin has announced they are working with GM to develop airless tires for a next-generation Chevy Bolt electric model, expected to be available to the public in just a few years.
While this could potentially mark the end of over 130 years of traditional tires, it also could also mark the end of deflated or punctured tires. GM is working on a wide variety of electric vehicles, including ones in an affordable price range like the Bolt. Both Michelin and GM have tested the airless tire on current-generation Bolt cars.
The disadvantages of filling tires with pressurized air have been evident for quite some time: air can leak, and every tire can be punctured by harsh elements on the road. Tire makers have spent over a century coming up with ways to minimize punctures and keep air inside tires, and Michelin’s airless tire design poses the natural reliance of flexible ribs for spring action.
There are a few reasons why tires without air haven’t been used on passenger cars much during the last century, as pressurized air is good for off-roading. As these masters of their sport navigate the trail, they reduce the air pressure in the tires, which allows the tire to flatten out and create a larger footprint on the terrain they have set out to conquer. Michelin is trying to make sure that these new tires behave with many of the same properties as traditional air-filled tires.
Lawnmowers and other off-road vehicles such as ATVs use what is known as the X Tweel, which is said to have a longer lifespan than regular tires and wheels and offer a ride without as much additional bounce. How will consumers accept all this drastic change? We think that they will love avoiding the hassle and time-consuming mess of a flat tire!
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