Michelin announces airless tyre deal with General Motors

[FiestaST]

Michelin announces airless tyre deal with General Motors

New puncture-proof technology is set for production in 2024 on autonomous electric vehicles

An electric autonomous vehicle from General Motors (GM) is set to serve as the first production application of a revolutionary airless tyre that was unveiled this week by Michelin.

The Uptis – an acronym of Unique Puncture-proof Tyre System – is similar in concept but different in its composition to the airless Tweel, which was first shown in 2005 and subsequently made production on skid-steer loaders and lawnmowers. It was revealed at Michelin’s Movin’On sustainability conference in Montréal, Canada.

The tyre consists of a flexible spoke structure made from rubber and a patented new resin-infused fibreglass reinforcement. The flexible ring is wrapped in a conventional tyre tread that could eventually be ‘recharged’ from worn using 3D printing. Just like with a pneumatic tyre, the properties of both the tread and the structure can be tuned for different types of vehicles.

Michelin is working with multiple car makers to bring the Uptis prototype to full production. Engineers say there’s no reason why it couldn’t be fitted to anything from a light truck to a performance car, electric or combustion-engine powered.

The only partnership that’s been made public so far is with GM, which will fit the Uptis to a fleet of Chevrolet Bolt EVs for real-world testing. GM is eyeing the peace of mind provided by Uptis for future CASE (connected, autonomous, shared and electric) vehicles.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/michelin-announces-airless-tyre-deal-general-motors

 

[FiestaST]

 

[Gordon_R]

Pretty funky looking!? I would have some concerns about durability...

Edit: When something that was new a decade ago is not yet ready for prime-time, you wonder what the technical hurdles are:

On 8 November 2005, Popular Science magazine named Michelin's Tweel as the "Best of What's New" honor in the Automotive Technology category.

 

[Hemi300c]

I remember in the late 90's seeing these tyres on a Audi on the net. Wow this has taken long to produce.

 

[supersunbird]

Would be great in SA where one really doesn't even want to stop to change a wheel.

 

[krycor]

Pretty funky looking!? I would have some concerns about durability...

Edit: When something that was new a decade ago is not yet ready for prime-time, you wonder what the technical hurdles are:

Not sure durability is a problem.. they’ve been using them on lawnmowers (driving kind) and tanks & military vehicles..

Not sure about boy racers using them.. but for normal driving I reckon it will be ok.

 

[RedViking]

Don't want to hit a pot hole with those.


Hopefully they also close off the sides.

 

[supersunbird]

Don't want to hit a pot hole with those.

Why not? Would you prefer to change the wheel after hitting a sharp pothole edge?

 

[RedViking]

Why not? Would you prefer to change the wheel after hitting a sharp pothole edge?

Yes that is what I would prefer /s

That wheel is just going over 3 little stones and look how far it bends in. Now imagine hiting a pot hole.

 

[GhostSixFour]

Yes that is what I would prefer /s

That wheel is just going over 3 little stones and look how far it bends in. Now imagine hiting a pot hole.

Did you read the part about tuning them? Makes sense that they use the most flexible one to show off their tech.

 

[FiestaST]

No more punctures: Michelin, GM goes reveals airless tyres for passenger cars

Michelin and General Motors presented a new generation of airless wheel technology for passenger vehicles — the Michelin Uptis Prototype (or “Unique Puncture-proof Tire System”) — at the Movin’On Summit for sustainable mobility.

Michelin and GM also announced a joint research agreement under which the companies intend to validate the Uptis Prototype with the goal of introducing Uptis on passenger models as early as 2024.

Michelin and GM are testing the Uptis Prototype, beginning with vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Later this year, the companies will initiate real-world testing of Uptis on a test fleet of Bolt EV vehicles in Michigan.

https://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Gea...als-airless-tyres-for-passenger-cars-20190613

 

[PhireSide]

What happens when you get a stone or stick stuck in the channels? Would that adversely affect the structure or durability of the tyre?

 

[GhostSixFour]

What happens when you get a stone or stick stuck in the channels? Would that adversely affect the structure or durability of the tyre?

I was also wondering if the production model will have open sides like that.

 

[Gordon_R]

I was also wondering if the production model will have open sides like that.

LOL, if you close the sides it becomes a normal tyre! IMO there is no other way to keep out dirt. Definitely not designed for off-road use...

 

[GhostSixFour]

LOL, if you close the sides it becomes a normal tyre! IMO there is no other way to keep out dirt. Definitely not designed for off-road use...

They can close the side with a net like material. Lets air in and out and let it compress without letting junk and gunk in.

 

[Gordon_R]

They can close the side with a net like material. Lets air in and out and let it compress without letting junk and gunk in.

LOL, that would make it worse if mud got in, and it would look pretty horrible!? IMO there really is no need for side protection, but I can see a business opportunity for cleaning stones out of the wheels/tyres (not sure what to call them).

 

[konfab]

LOL, if you close the sides it becomes a normal tyre! IMO there is no other way to keep out dirt.

Nope.
They will probably have sealed in sides to keep stuff out as you have pointed out. However it isn't a normal tyre because the structural strength of the tyre comes from the rubber, not the air pressure. Which means that the individual cavities can simply be at atmospheric pressure.

Definitely not designed for off-road use...

Being able to adjust the air pressure in your tyres is pretty important for off-roading, thus I still think pneumatic tyres will still have a place there. However for the vast majority of users, having tyres that won't get a blowout or a puncture is an amazing development. They can basically get rid of spare tyres properly (run-flats don't count in South Africa because of their distance limits).

 

[namzsteve]

I approve!

5x low profiles for me please.

 

[FiestaST]

Stay woke.

 

[supersunbird]

Stay woke.

No thanks.