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Humvee Airless Tires

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Uploaded by: qsellnow on Dec 23, 2011

Are these the car wheels of the future? If they are, you won't need to worry about flat tires anymore.

Categories: science-tech

Tags: car, future, cool, tire, tires, airless-tires, airless, tire-technology

Adam Butterworth -- 30-Dec-2012 04:31:13 pm -- Potential benefits of the Tweel include the obvious safety and convenience of never having flat tires. Eventually, it may be able to outperform a pneumatic tire since it can be designed to have high lateral strength for better handling without a loss in comfort since the design of the spokes allows the vertical and lateral stiffness to be tuned independently. The tread patterns may incorporate holes in the design thus eliminating or significantly reducing aquaplaning. Michelin expects the tread to last two to three times as long as a conventional tire.[2] Because only the tread around the circumference would be disposed of when worn as opposed to a whole tire, the environmental impact should be less. The Tweel does have several flaws, however, the worst being vibration. Above 50 mph (80 km/h), the Tweel vibrates considerably, which in itself is a problem that also gives rise to undesired noise and heat. A fast-moving Tweel is unpleasantly loud[3] and produces 5 percent more friction c Jacob Paterson -- 06-Nov-2012 05:28:18 pm -- eh.. this tech has been out for a few years now.. Michelin brought them out in 2005. Andrew Steirer -- 20-Oct-2012 01:01:05 pm -- way too much wiggle when the vehicle stops. What happens if the vehicle gets sideways? Seems like the tire would just roll off the rim? If they get packed with mud do they lose integrity? Matthew Tyler Hickman -- 28-Aug-2012 09:11:43 pm -- OMG are you guys clueless... Theyre trying to stop the issue with tires getting shot out or going flat. Neil Caulfield -- 27-Aug-2012 09:08:25 pm -- These would work really well on sand probably, they are for crossing terrain where a shapeshifting tire would be effective. Josie Sprinkle -- 12-Aug-2012 10:28:14 pm -- Lets test the strength with a.50 BMG.. Wouldn't stand a chance. Danny Gue -- 10-Jul-2012 11:03:53 am -- Wouldn't that waste more gas? Moe Sheriff -- 08-Jul-2012 03:48:24 am -- can I get a set in 215-35-18's? Zartan Filho -- 02-Jun-2012 02:33:03 pm -- <html> <body> <p>Our <a href="http://www.localbrazilians.com" target="_blank">Romantic Dating Site</a> will help you find your companion for the rest of your life. It is a great way to meet new people and enjoy a night of romance or even something more in depth and lasting. In <a href="http://www.localbrazilians.com" target="_blank">dating site</a> your new love of your life could be just a few clicks away as well as casual friends to chat and stay in touch with.</p> </body>. </html> Brayan Jesus Primera Gomez -- 21-May-2012 01:08:54 am -- backmrn goob Jesse Cervantes -- 12-May-2012 01:33:26 pm -- That's awesome! Marta Saurer -- 30-Apr-2012 02:13:16 pm -- hmmm Willy James -- 29-Apr-2012 12:27:37 am -- cool Abate Paolo -- 13-Apr-2012 10:30:58 am -- quannno boki?

Guest 1 year ago

What if theres mud build up. Wouldn't that throw the balance off?

Guest 1 year ago

This technology has been around for at least 10 years. Look at iRobot's SUGV or Pacbot's wheels. They both use the same technology. They are not in production because of design, if the wheel fails, the humvee stops. The failure mode would be tearing out the center hub, and running them hard would really hurt the longevity of them. With a normal wheel, you can get out of an area on just a rim, not something you can do with a molded wheel. It's fine on the bots because of the weight ratio of wheel to robot. In a Humvee, that would be another story, and if I remember correctly it is a linear coefficient (modulus) which controls failure.

Guest 1 year ago

Would be good to have a spare tire...

Guest 1 year ago

these tires don't have a long tread life. that is why they are not commercially available for all vehicles yet

Guest 1 year ago

What if he parks in a puddle and it freezes overnight STUCK? or broken wheel? HMMM

Guest 1 year ago

This project started as an insert for a tubeless tire (much like a foam insert in a rally car tire), but flexing sidewall of the tire made its performance only worse (uneven ground contact), so they got rid of pneumatics alltogether. As for cornering, it was tested on a race track on high speeds (and it did impressively well) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqRJ9GfIJtI And if you want to know more google "Tweel by Michelin"

Guest 1 year ago

I agree. I would also wonder how long it would take for the tire to break down at the crease points.

Guest 1 year ago

That would be an interesting insert to see placed within a tubeless tire. Tire science usually approximates tires as a serious of springs. The idea as probably been considered by at least half of all automotive engineers on the planet. I'm curious to see if the tires would survive the shear force induced from cornering.

RajaramKamath 1 year ago

MatthewBirtles 1 year ago

i want some

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