Goodyear bringing new Kevlar-equipped off-road light truck tire to market (Bullet proof tires?)

MotorAge ^ | 2/26/2009 | MotorAge

[LeoOshkosh]

Why all of a sudden would their be a demand for Kevlar tires? That's weird?

[pgkdan]

That’s going to be one helluva an expensive tire.

[OneWingedShark]

>That’s going to be one helluva an expensive tire.

Yep... maybe Obama’s going to equip all of his Civil Subjugation Force’s vehicles with them and THAT’S why he needs all the money in the spending bills.

[TChris]

Already been done...

Dick Cepek Kevlar-Belted Mud Tires

[MarkeyD]

They’ve been making bicycle tires with Kevlar for quite some time.

[cowboyway]

Why all of a sudden would their be a demand for Kevlar tires? That's weird?

I doubt that it's 'all of a sudden'. They've probably been developing this for years.

Also, if you read the article you'll see that the tire was specifically developed for off roading (rock crawling, mudding) to increase sidewall puncture resistance.

[blau993]

It is the strength of Kevlar, not its resistance to ordnance, that is operative here.

The hull of my boat is Kevlar-reinforced for the same reason. That said, a boating magazine two years ago tested various hull structures for resistance to ordnance, and the Kevlar-reinforced structure did very well. This will give me great comfort if I decide to go cruising in the Gulf of Aden or the Straits of Malacca.

[sam_paine]

Why all of a sudden would their be a demand for Kevlar tires? That's weird?

Why "all of a sudden" would anyone want any kind of new invention?

iPod? HDTV? Pet rock?

And if you've ever driven anywhere in a ranch in Texas, you'd understand that mesquite thorns are designed by Lucifer to puncture tires.

Just because it's "kevlar" doesn't mean you have to jump to conclusions about being designed for gangs or assault weapons or whatever.

[Hardastarboard]

I remember a TV ad from several years ago where they showed a bullet being stopped in slow motion by a Kevlar sheet, advertising tires made with Kevlar. Nothing new here, except that someone finally decided to make an off road tire with it, or perhaps that specific company is touting its new offering.

[sam_paine]

Freep rule #27: “Anything new is possibly a conspiracy. Throw a wooden shoe at it.”

[absolootezer0]

interco has one also. the vortrac i think.

[DuncanWaring]

Kevlar falls generally into the category of “aramid fiber”.

Goodyear was selling “aramid fiber” tires thirty years ago.

The only thing noteworthy about this is “What took so long?” for this particular application.

[tlb]

Kevlar was originally invented to replace the steel belt in tires.

[villagerjoel]

For some reason, this reminds me of Rearden metal...

[absolootezer0]

Why all of a sudden would their be a demand for Kevlar tires? That's weird?

or kevlar body tubs too!
http://www.kifourwheelers.com/forum/index.php?topic=558.0
kevlar rocks. its a strong, relatively light, and flexible material.

[deport]

Sounds like an extension of the ‘run flat tires’ now on some vehicles. There is a niche market and someone will meet the demand.

[Falcon4.0]

"The only thing noteworthy about this is “What took so long?” for this particular application. "

Kevlar was being developed for the tire market however they perfected the "steel belt radial" before DuPont perfected Kevlar. I know this because I work with people who worked on the Kevlar project.
Also for Kevlar to be considered "Bullet Resistant", you need to have multiple layers of the fabric.

[OneWingedShark]

>Freep rule #27: “Anything new is possibly a conspiracy. Throw a wooden shoe at it.”

Rule #28: “Anything old is corrupt. Throw a monkey-wrench at it.”

Rule #29: “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they AREN’T out to get you.”

;)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

After the tread is gone you can use it as body armor.

[Cheetahcat]

I wonder what they use in the tires Kevlar 29 or 49 there is a third grade also the one most found in Marine Laminates is 49 it has around a 2% elongation while the ballistic 29 has 4% however once in a laminate and held by the Resin to the adjacent Filament creating a stiff structure it loses most ballistic capabilities.

the other problem like it's very distant cousin Nylon it has a affinity for water so any break or hole in the tire casing that exposes it to moisture is asking for trouble via moisture migration.