Airless Tires
Andrei , Kul, Kira, Roger
The history of wheels spans thousands of years, evolving from primitive forms to the sophisticated designs we see today.
The earliest evidence of wheeled vehicles dates to 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia, where solid wooden wheels were affixed to carts for transportation. These early wheels were simple and lacked the sophistication of modern designs, but they revolutionized the way resources were transported.
Over time, advancements in materials and construction techniques led to the development of spoked wheels around 2000 BCE in the Middle East and Asia. Spoked wheels were lighter and more durable than solid ones, improving efficiency and maneuverability. The ancient Greeks and Romans further refined wheel design, introducing iron rims to reinforce wooden wheels and improve durability. This innovation laid the foundation for the wheels used during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. During the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the manufacturing process for wheels underwent significant advancements. Metalworking techniques allowed for the mass production of steel wheels, which were stronger and more resilient than their predecessors. In the late 19th century, Scottish engineer John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tire, which consisted of a rubber tube filled with air enclosed in a durable outer casing. Pneumatic tires provided a smoother ride and better traction, revolutionizing the automotive industry.
And today, we invented airless tires. Drawing inspiration from Wilson’s airless 3D-printed basketballs, these tires hold a new era of durability and efficiency. Constructed from carbon fiber and elastomeric polymers, they endure even the toughest conditions while remaining compact and long-lasting. This represents a continued pursuit of progress in transportation technology. With the potential to minimize waste compared to traditional tires, these wheels offer a promising step forward in sustainable mobility.
Airless tires, unlike traditional tires with air chambers, are built with a solid core of rubber and plastic (www.tiredepath.com,2022). They use a honeycomb web and lattice structure to absorb shock and keep functioning even when unbalanced or punctured. These see-through tires have damage-resistant plastic sheets instead of thick sidewalls. They can be retreaded instead of needing replacement every few years, like how car wheels last. The idea comes from Michelin’s bulletproof Tweel tires. However, as of 2023 there are challenges with debris getting stuck in the tread. Michelin has successfully tested their UPTIS airless tire at high speeds (130mph), addressing concerns about limitations on airless tire performance. These high-speed, puncture-proof tires with bulletproof sidewalls are attracting interest from law enforcement for pursuits, potentially helping to avoid tire fires during chases.
Non pneumatic tires can be used as airless tires for basic simulation and understanding how it works with the components(Eugeniusz Rusiński, 2017)
Michelin Tweel: Uses radially placed, flexible spokes connecting the inner and outer parts of the wheel.
Bridgestone: Employs two rows of spokes that curve and are not radial. These rows have a gap in the middle, and one row faces the opposite direction of the other.
to its puncture resistance and ability to absorb impact, improving crew safety.
Benefits for Airless Tires:
Airless tires are resistant to puncture compared to the traditional tires. The components of spoke can’t be damaged due to the road hazards, eliminating flat tires and the need to carry a spare-less material is needed to make airless tires compared to traditional ones. They also last longer, reducing waste and the need for frequent tire recycling. Airless tires experience less friction due to their flexible spokes, which can help lower a vehicle’s carbon emissions.
Performance of Airless Tires:
Airless tires might not be speed demons at first (www.tiredepath.com, 2022). They likely won’t match the performance of high-end tires due to limitations in materials and design. While Michelin hit 130 mph in tests, it falls short of top performance tires reaching 186 mph. Brakes may also need improvement.
Handling could be a bright spot. Though airless tires lack the sidewall advantage of traditional tires, their tread design could provide better steering response and control. This might translate to smoother rides and better handling on stable surfaces.
Comfort might be a win for airless tires. Their lighter weight and less rubber could lead to quieter operation. But they might struggle on rough roads due to the lack of sidewall flex and internal cushioning. So, expect a smoother highway ride but a bumpier experience off-road.
Innovation as carbon fiber: The outer component or the main rotational component will be carbon fiber. Super strong and super light, carbon fiber is a dream material for engineers which sometimes are called graphite fiber. (www.innovativecomposite.com, 2024). It’s incredibly tough, boasting five times the strength and double the stiffness of steel, yet amazingly lighter. This unique combination makes it ideal for many parts, which is why engineers and designers love using it. Making carbon fiber is a fascinating mix of chemistry and mechanics. First, they stretch out long strands of material. Then, they crank up the heat in a special oxygen-free environment to prevent burning. This intense heat makes the atoms in the fibers jiggle like crazy, shaking out most of the unwanted non-carbon atoms. What’s left is a super strong fiber made almost entirely of tightly bonded carbon atoms. There are several steps involved, like spinning the fibers, making them more stable, heating them super high (carbonization), treating the surface, and finally adding a special coating.
To put this proposal into effect several components such as cost, time and materials need to be taken into consideration. As far as the cost for consumers goes; As mentioned, the company Michelin has come up with a variation of airless tires. According to their England logistics the cost of an airless tire such as the Michelin’s would be about 25% more than that of the cost of a traditional tire. Traditional tires, if inexpensive, can generally be between $50-$150 per tire. For moderately priced tires about $100-$300 and for expensive tires $300-$1000. Overall, the expected price for all four tires is a little over $600, based on the median price of tires in the United States. (https://www.englandlogistics.com/michelin-airless-tires-2024-tire-guide/). That price, with a 25% increase, gives us an estimate of about $750 for 4 tires.
For the manufacturers the cost of each material determines the total cost of making it. The inner core layer of the tire which is made up of rubber has a cost of about 0.91 cents per pound (it’s between 0.30 and 0.91 according to selinawamucii.com). Theoretically let’s say the make-up of rubber in an airless tire is the same as in a traditional tire. A traditional tire has about 28 percent makeup of rubber and weighs about 15-22 pounds. 28 percent of 22 is 6.16 so for 6 pounds of rubber its about $5.6. Overall for the rubber aspect of the tire about $6. For the “damage resistant plastic” the material Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene can be used. This has a price index of $1.76 per kg(Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) price index – businessanalytiq) Let’s say this takes 6 pound it’s about $5 for this material. The titanium costs $0.35 per pound and let’s say it takes about 3 pounds of it, it is then $1.05. Lastly for the carbon fiber outing it would cost $7 per pound and would take about 7 pounds for the tire so the cost of the carbon fiber material per tire would be $49.Overall, the cost of material for a tire theoretically would be an estimated total of $61.05 per tire.
For the making of the tires themselves the time could likely take between a couple hours to a day given that that is about the time it takes for regular tires to be made. From start to finish, from prototype (planning and designing it) to obtaining materials, manufacturing, testing, marketing, and selling it could take years for a protype like this to come to fruition. In order to fully implement this, it would be done like any other tire making company the only difference is the way it’s made and the cost of both the tires and for installations as well. In theory we suspect the installation could be about the same price as a traditional tire based on the process it takes to install it would be similar.
In conclusion, airless tires offer an alternative to traditional tires. Such as addressing issues like punctures, flats, and maintenance while providing a more sustainable option. With the improvements we have made to the airless tires we believe that the airless tires has the potential to revolutionize transportation by offering greater durability, efficiency, and reliability on various terrains.
As research and development continues on airless tires, we can expect more improvements in the future such as the design, materials and shortening the manufacture time, making airless tires more efficient and cost-effective.
As technology will continue to evolve and expand we believe that airless tires will soon enhance both the safety and sustainability of our roads and vehicles.
Reference:
- Erfan, H. (2023, December 16). Airless Tires Guide: Should you buy them in 2024?. TireDepth. https://www.tiredepth.com/tire-guides/airless-tires-guide/
2. G-Innovative. (2022, March 22). What is carbon fiber?. Innovative Composite Engineering. https://www.innovativecomposite.com/what-is-carbon-fiber/
3. Michelin airless tires 2024 tire guide. Michelin Airless Tires? 2024 Tire Guide | England Logistics
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