Jump to content

Puncture-proof tyres trialled on DHL vans in SG


BabyBlade
 Share

Recommended Posts

The problem with cars is they put the absorbers in the wrong place.

Instead of attaching to the wheel they should put it

in the wheel.

:D 

 

 

Edited by Jamesc
Link to post
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Watwheels said:

Omg, are these adhesive beads? LoL 

So the tires have to come with the steel or ally rims? Like that it is not going to be cheap.

1041822035_gluebeadsonairlesstires.thumb.jpg.d31bfa158d1736b120f2ccef14ae65f0.jpg

40788530_airlesstiresadhesivebeads..thumb.jpg.a2030d06ba5a6c425334fb8c0cab4100.jpg

It obviously cannot fit into our existing alloy rims. Cos if you see how tire dealers fit your rubber tire onto the rim it is by air expansion and circumference of the rim act as a stopper for the rubber tires to fit snugly w/o any air leaks. It is not going to fit onto your fancy alloy rims. These couldnt expand. So it has to come glued with the rim. Yucks! Good luck using them.

It looks like a 3-piece assembly. The outer diameter containing the tire threads...glued to the ribs...glued to the rim. LoL

T0Mkgn1.gif

The tyre is bonded to the wheel or rim by adhesive. Compared to air-filled tyres, such tyres may have a lower cornering threshold. 

  • Praise 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

No more big rims with low profile tyres. Some time back I read that tyres with air is still the best because air can evenly spread the pressure within and hence able to keep the tyre "round" and also keep proper contact to the ground regardless of surfaces (i.e. uneven). Such structured tyres don't have the advantage. 

Edited by Heartbreakid
  • Praise 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Heartbreakid said:

No more big rims with low profile tyres. Some time back I read that tyres with air is still the best because air can evenly spread the pressure within and hence able to keep the tyre "round" and also keep proper contact to the ground regardless of surfaces (i.e. uneven). Such structured tyres don't have the advantage. 

Air is also almost weightless and free!

Unless the vehicle is used on Mars/Moon, no need to bother with this (old) tech.

  • Praise 1
  • Haha! 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, BabyBlade said:

wahlau why you purposely screenshot this! 😡

Why? Never heard of such a phobia before mah.

So Google take a screenshot and show everyone as part of learning man.

Got wrong ah? 

Link to post
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Jamesc said:

I don't know what all the fuss is.

I will happily use it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on my MIL car

:D

We also don't know what's your fuss about on nearly every posts, there is a mention of your MIL since this is a car forum.

Edited by Heartbreakid
Link to post
Share on other sites

Space age tyres.

Maybe will buy if use on luggages 🤣

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/products/has-nasa-just-invented-a-puncture-proof-tyre-that-will-last-the-life-of-your-bike

 

"SMART's approach appears to be the polar opposite of existing puncture-proof tyre manufacturers such as Tannus(opens in new tab), whose solid tyres are made of a micro closed cell polymer resin (MCP) manipulated to make a solid foam-like material.

The innovation by the NASA Glenn Research Center comprises a “non-pneumatic, compliant tyre utilizing shape memory alloys (mainly nickel-titanium alloy NiTinol) as load bearing components.”

Shape memory alloys deform and then spring back to their original shape. The science says they are capable of undergoing “phase transitions at the molecular level with significant reversible strain (up to 10%), an order of magnitude more than ordinary materials, before undergoing permanent deformation.”

(Image credit: SMART Tire Company)

Commonly used elastic-plastic materials such as spring steels and composites can only be subjected to strains of around 0.3-0.5% before suffering plastic deformation, according to SMART. 

Which means the use of a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy ought to produce a tyre that is elastic like rubber yet strong like titanium - and obviously doesn’t need air and therefore can't flat.

SMART claims the use of memory metals provides enhanced control over the effective stiffness as a function of the deformation, giving increased design versatility. For instance, it says, the tyre can be made to soften with increased deflection, reducing the amount of energy transferred to the vehicle or bicycle during high deformation events.

The company says the final product will be integrated with “a special poly-rubber material for the longest-lasting tread and grip for all weather conditions.”

Although the tyre doesn't actually need sidewalls since it has its own load-bearing elements, the poly-rubber tread/coating will cover the walls for aesthetics and also to keep debris out of the tyre. The coatings aren't shown in the press pictures supplied by SMART in this story - just the alloy 'skeleton'.

(Image credit: SMART Tire Company)

However, despite the METL tyre’s claimed longevity and durability, it seems clear that it could have sizeable disadvantages compared to pneumatic tyres: firstly it won’t be possible to adjust pressure for rider weight or terrain. The company says the first prototype was designed to simulate a 700c tyre at 100psi and that the third prototype is a gravel tyre.

Additionally SMART hasn’t provided any rolling resistance data - surely an oversight since the entire focus of increasingly wider pneumatic bicycle tyres has been on this.

We don’t know exactly how much the METL tyre with its poly-rubber tread will weigh, but SMART says its tyres are "comparable with many mainstream alternatives when it comes to weight. This includes gravel and mountain bikes, e-bikes, automotive tyres and truck tyres."

And there’s also no detail on rim compatibility. When the original METL tyre was unveiled in 2021, the company was reportedly working to make it eventually backwards compatible with a standard clincher rim, though the prototype was mounted on a tubular rim.

And once the poly-rubber tread on the alloy carcass wears out, how and by whom will it be replaced? SMART says: "The SMART tyre can last the life of your vehicle/bicycle, but eventually the rubber-like tread will wear down and can be re-treaded within our recycle system."

And finally, last year the cost of a pair was estimated to be around $2,000, but since then SMART says it "identified several R&D goals related to dropping our material costs by up to 90%". Now it says the price of the METL tyres will be comparable to a high performance or racing tyre at $100-$150. This is due primarily to the high cost of NiTinol, it says.

SMART says it has the commuter, road, gravel, mountain bike and e-bike markets in mind, and says the METL tyre is a “high-value product for the modern bike enthusiast and pro level cyclist.” 

In 2021 US bike brand Felt announced it was partnering with SMART. Eric Sakalowsky, Felt's VP Global Marketing and E-Commerce, was quoted as saying: "The SMART Tire Company’s tyre solution shows an exciting new frontier, and we’re excited to offer our bikes to support their testing."

But at the moment it seems as though the e-bike market will be the best fit for it, where a tyre's toughness rather than its performance is the priority.

SMART says it expects to launch its METL product in Q2 of 2023 and that the first product will be the bicycle tyre despite the company announcing partnerships with Kia and Hyundai and being recognised for two different CES 2023 Innovation Awards for vehicle tech and sustainability.

SMART hasn't turned its back on space exploration, either. It claims it has created the ultimate lunar tyre, capable of carrying multiple astronauts plus cargo across the south pole of the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis Program (the manned return to the moon). Additionally, it says it has already been contracted by some of the largest private aerospace companies in the world, to aid in their efforts toward the exploration and commercialisation of space."

Edited by Atonchia
Link to post
Share on other sites

On 1/13/2023 at 11:03 AM, Jamesc said:

No need to buy from Michelle Lim

Can make one yourself at home.

I will be making one for my MIL.

:D 

 

Get her a special set of rims. 😁

 

  • Haha! 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

On 1/13/2023 at 4:53 PM, Wildfaye29 said:

Why? Never heard of such a phobia before mah.

So Google take a screenshot and show everyone as part of learning man.

Got wrong ah? 

😅😂 I guess she may such a phobia and just nice, your screenshot included images. 

No wrong lah, just wahpianz, those images. 😖

Yada-ing. 

Stay safe

Cheers 

↡ Advertisement
  • Praise 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...