Radical New Tire design by Michelin

[AlabamaDan]

Check out the next set of tires you may buy!

[Encryptshun]

This is the worst idea in the history of bad ideas. Just imagine the joy of driving a vehicle riding on 4 of these bad boys during a hard winter when they are packed completely full of ice and snow.

[EazyBreazy]

looks cool but how would the drifters get the stretched look :P

[rn79870]

I'll bet they are flat proof too. I like the look. What's the price?

[AZhitman]

Old news, but they're actually brilliant.

Read up on the benefits - Imagine the durability and heat dissipation, lighter weight, better brake performance, no inflation issues...

[AlabamaDan]

When someone brought it to my attention they said, imagine no air pumps as the gas station, no checking of air pressure, no valve stems. To bad they're fugly!

[xckid]

[Dattebayo]

Repost X 1000

[stopatnothing]

Repost X 1000

I knew it coming into this thread...

[MagikDragon]

i would assume that they could give you a blackwall if you wanted it.

[stopatnothing]

Does anyone know what the wheels size limitations will be?

[Red coupe]

Repost X 1000

Whats worse is that the source these pictures are from is only from January, and is titled "Radical New Tire design by Michelin"

[Dattebayo]

Really? I had no attention span for such things...

This is like 3 years old at least...

[xekushnr]

Yeah, these pictures are pretty old. I think I saw a design like this when I was still in high school. Even if it offers some advantages over a regular tire, its *** ugly. Maybe if they put a thin sidewall on it I would be more inclined to buy.

[nametakennow]

They'd cover up the interior spoke things with a sidewall, jeez people.

Anyway, this is ancient, and for whatever reason we haven't seen new developments. When I first saw this years ago I was excited that I might be running these one day, but since then I haven't heard a word.

By buddy's dad works for Michelin, maybe I'll try to do some spying...

[AlabamaDan]

Didn't know it was old news x1000. I don't hang out in General Chat much.

[nametakennow]

So I did some Googling and discovered that they're already using these on some small, low speed personal and commercial vehicles (one of them was similar to a Segway), and that testing is ongoing. However, apparently it's supposed to be another 10yrs or so before we see them on cars.

[Kalok]

They'd cover up the interior spoke things with a sidewall, jeez people.

Anyway, this is ancient, and for whatever reason we haven't seen new developments. When I first saw this years ago I was excited that I might be running these one day, but since then I haven't heard a word.

By buddy's dad works for Michelin, maybe I'll try to do some spying...

I can see it now....

"Hey... Where can I get Hello Kitty sidewall covers for my new Michelin tires?"

hehehe

[skydragoness]

I thought those are all "test mule" pics and that the actual tire (if they do make it) will have a sidewall. I would think no one would be keen on buying a tire like that .. no matter what they say about its strength.. with no sidewalls.

It's also been on tv a lot, last year, or the year before. Can't remember.

[Dattebayo]

They'd cover up the interior spoke things with a sidewall, jeez people..

See, this was the original problem in the original thread... Cover up the sidewall and air cant escape from the chambers in order for it to act any differently than a normal tire. Try to imagine a crazy system of air bladders and connecting tubes. Then try to imagine a way to eliminate water from those chambers so freezing isn't a problem.

I honestly don't think they are going to cover them up, it hurts too many of the design's strengths...

[Red coupe]

well they could cover the sidewalls, have venting between the ribs, then perhaps have some kind of valve in the rim to equalize pressure but keep elements out.

[Dattebayo]

Lets make the tire with an inter-plexing valve system! All the kiddies will LOOOOVE it!It will be seen on econo-rental cars and old fart cars of the future. That's it...

[Loki]

I'd buy a set if you could have sidewalls on it. Maybe not enough to make it airtight, but something to make them look not so hideous. Don't know how well these would work on larger wheels either...

[Mr1der]

I want one without sidewalls...I fancy the idea of the side of my car getting the living **** beat out of it by a stick stuck in there.

[Dattebayo]

Ah! I wonder if it will throw the driver through the windshield and do a flip over the dash if you throw a stick through it like a bicycle...

[themadscientist]

french. gay. surprized? no.I am not interested in the benefits of something that goofy looking.

[crackler]

Video of it, Site in NSFWhttp://www.break.com/index/rei....html

[Red coupe]

You dont want a wheel because its not pretty and your calling some one ELSE gay? You sound one step away from driving a pink car

I'm not really interested in the looks of something that has benefits...

[themadscientist]

Standard tires serve me well and don't look homosechshual.I demand function and form.

[NismoB13]

I seriously doubt these will stand up to track or drifting conditions. Therefore, these are a fail in my book.