Posted on 11/18/2014 12:17:51 PM PST by Idaho_Cowboy
Combining a tire and wheel into a single airless 'tweel' has proven to be a popular concept, although it still hasn't gone mainstream. Michelin is the latest company to announce a production tweel, but not for any automotive applications—just yet.
It will open a dedicated tweel-producing factory in Piedmont, South Carolina, this week. However these airless tires will be used on skid-steer loaders and certain models of John Deere lawnmower, not cars.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
I would love to have these on a car. I’ve had so many flat tires on cars over the years. Would love to.eliminate that specific car problem.
My last flat was in 1973. And I’ve driven at least half a million miles since then. I honestly have considered removing the spare tires in my cars.
We’ve had far too many flats ourselves to drive far without a spare.
I guess Houston share of never ending construction and roofing repair leaves too many nails on the roads.
We probably need a tire repair once ever other year.
I’ve seen these on skid steer loaders. Seems they would add too much weight to a car tire and really hurt mileage.
Stay out of New Mexico, our highways are the natural habitat of the drywall screw.
Some new cars don’t come with spares. I get flats all the time, so I’d love to know your secret.
I get a lot of flats...and I have concluded that the tire shops in town have people drive around sprinkling nails and debris on the roads.
What is the weight difference between a Tweel versus a Wheel and a Tire?
What new car has no spare at all?
Never mind, I should have looked before I asked.
http://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/vehicles-without-a-spare-tire_aug_20131.pdf
I believe it. There was a window repair shop in my hometown whose owner was caught throwing bricks through windows on late night drive-bys.
Looks like that will go over good in the hood.
Not sure that would work on my Willys or CJ7. Both need new rubber, the Willys especially.
“What new car has no spare at all?”
http://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/vehicles-without-a-spare-tire_aug_20131.pdf
From the article:
That—along with the potential weight savings of combining tire and wheel—has led to plenty of tweel experimentation since Michelin introduced the concept in 2005.
I still have no idea how they solved the snow-pack issue. Getting snow or ice packed into part of the sidewall would be exactly like a washing machine with an unbalanced load spinning at high speed.
With the open design, that stuff would sling out quickly.
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