What is Digg?90 Comments
- CrumbleBeeHaHa, on 10/12/2007, -2/+41...and thousands of lives by eliminating blow-outs.
- existnce, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1910-15 years before it will come out?
- TopherT, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14Plus replacing tires as often as is now necessary. One question however, when the treads on these tires wear out do you have to replace the entire wheel? That'd be a pretty expensive proposition.
- theRIAA, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12in 10-15 years well be floating around in couches eating potato chips
- freshcreation, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8The story was published before but finally there's a video now....
Cool to actually SEE the Tweel in action. - ntech, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@TopherT: All you have to replace is the tread.
I did a report on the Tweel in college last semester. It sounded very interesting with many future applications from wheelchair tires to bulldozer tires. - Linkage155, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7This is one of those new "technologies" that is bound to actually happen, there isn't anything holding it back, if it's the same as today's "air-based" tires, PLUS more. than let us use it! :D
//Edit: Oh yeah, bad news for the cops with their old school spikes :D - tommajor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8so, are they reinventing the wheel? ;-)
- eurocrisp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7i wonder why dont we make wheels out of rocks anymore.
- TopherT, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6From what I understand the main problem with deploying this system today is its noise level. This setup creates enough noise to be problematic for complying with vehicle noise restrictions. How they can project how this technology will matrue 10-15 years from now does seem somewhat suspect, however.
- shubjero, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8This is awesome. They use similar technology like this in the new run-flat tires on some of the higher end vehicles, but was originally a narrow band on the inside of the tire surrounding the rim so that when the tire loses pressure, it could run on the inner core until you fixed the flat. This is awesome to see it working independantly now!
- stou, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I am confused why it will take 10-15 years for this to come out. I recall Michelin building a tire-factory inside an ISO container for use by race-car teams (F1 and such) to build special tires for very specific track-conditions.
- zweben, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8"I'm guessing the noise could be caused by air going over the plastic like spokes. If it is, then simply put an outer skin on it but then your sealing it shut. Engineers have it tough."
Do you honestly think they wouldn't have thought of that? - PumpItUp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7They'd have to work pretty hard to slash your tires though.
Wile I was watching it, I couldn't help but think how many men can now cheat on their girlfriends without fear of their tires being slashed horror movie style. - msafi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Are we still gonna be using cars 10-15 years in the future? that's disappointing....
- c0uchm0nster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6please, i've played grand theft auto - those things dont do ***** ;)
- ikickass, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4yeah no more spike strips to end a chase, they would need to devlop a new method
- diggtard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The side wall is removed from the demonstration video for show and to analyze the structure during operation via high-speed cameras. This can be done since the sidewall on the tweel is no longer load baring. On production tweels a sidewall can easily be added for enhanced durability and protection of the internal structure.
- screensnot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Looks to me like a little mud can cause a big imbalance problem.
- speel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Hey it looks like the wheel pasta.
- SlashNot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Rappers are going to hate that *****
- sapo916, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3You get the spare tweel out
- Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"have you ever tried to "slash" someones tyries? it's actually very very hard to do"
Screwdriver + sidewall = easily slashed tire. - sapo916, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Are you sure? These things basically are shocks looking at how they work.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7"From what I understand the main problem with deploying this system today is its noise level. This setup creates enough noise to be problematic for complying with vehicle noise restrictions"
Topher, I can't imagine noise as much of a problem for small, transported construction vehicles, off road sport vehicles or many military vehicles.
Now for passenger vehicles, we should focus more on banning the loud [c]rap and bass blasting out of so many cars more than revolutionary tires... - darb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2There's still the "looks" aspect of these tires.
At least in America, people are very consumed with looks over function. It goes back on a study published earlier this year, in regards to why Ford's dream of the "American Car" - one simple vehicle to transport you to and fro, in an efficient and effective manner. People have "ego's" - we like our car's to look nice, we don't care if we have a huge bulky SUV guzzling up gas...the rims look "sweet". Or, the luxury sedan - with slick curves, and nice lines.
These tires are going to need a major makeover - if they intend to sell. The cost and ride factor, may not outweigh the fact they're hideous. Maybe it's just me...but if that's the intended "look" - they won't end up on my car. - breakfastpants, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@CrumbleBeeHaHa
Indeed that is the best outcome of this whole thing. Does anyone have any idea how f'ed motorcyclists are when their front tire blows out while they are doing 80 on the highway? - tcrawford, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Things aren't looking so good for your seriously exposed brakes!
- kindrobot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Old news. My radio flyer had those.
- g0blin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2How much will it cost to replace a set of tyres once the tread has reached the legal limit??
- lemorex, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Well, these tires are going to save me 50 cents at the gas station every 3 month...
- xgravix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It would easily require thirty times as much rubber as an inflatable tire... Think about it dude...
- IcerC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The ibot does not have this yet, they are testing the ibot but it still is not an option on it because of the slushiness while climbing stairs and the fact sticks and debris can get caught in the gaps.
the comment on 10-15 years surprised me - djflx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Or scroll down in the comments on that page, find the original .wmv link and install nothing. :)
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/51120/airless_wheel_video/ - famousdave, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4What happens in the winter? Your car would be locked to the ground everytime you had more than an inch of ice!
- REALLYTANGY, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Just random points/food for thought...
Based on what I saw in the video it looks like it would be easier to compromise the integrity of the tire with out the owner knowing. How about making small cuts throughout the honeycomb? Or how about taking a lighter to the structure? Or using one of those compressed cans of air to increase the brittleness? How about a pissed off spouse, colleague, neighbor?
What impact would this have on the the long term cost for the owner? Wear ability?
What about profits for the tire/rubber/tow truck business?
How would they fare in freezing weather?
What about load baring capacity in relation to a standard tire? Want to carry more on a traditional tire, simply add more air (to a point of course). Want more traction on (surface area), release air.
Would it greatly reduce the shipping cost associated with moving the tires? Good for tire companies, not so good for freighters? - FishyJoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The problem with these tires is they ride like rocks. You'd be suprised how much road shock ordinary tires absorb.
- mcwizard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Thats probably the reason for the 10-15 year delay. The cops need to play catch-up.
- QuorumCall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2So what happens if you get a flat tweel?
- mcwizard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Plus the tires would weigh 50+ lbs. each, causing a major drag on acceleration and increasing braking distance.
- astuteObserver, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This will be fun in snow. Imagine chunks of ice lodged in between the spokes.
- neuros, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Like freshCreation said, it's nice to see this in action.
Now, I want some. - tecmec, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1very true
- FishyJoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Shocks usually work by compressing gas or fluid. There is a reason a car doesn't just ride on springs or rubber bushings. The compressibility of fluid or gas gives much better vibration dampening.
- sishgupta, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Its actually incredibly easy to puncture the side wall of a tire. You could do it with a fork.
Also, I always thought that the sidewall when punctured would be violent in some way, but it isn't at all. - Manhigh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They look like they give quite a bit, like an under-inflated pneumatic tire. I wonder how these compare to well inflated pneumatic tires when it comes to gas mileage.
They may be squishy, but they also have the potential to be lighter. - fiftycents, on 10/12/2007, -0/+110 to 15 years? seems very high... I bet it will be available and used commonly a lot sooner than that. It seems like its already very well developed, the only thing they'd be facing now is cost efficiancy. I bet these are expensive.
I wonder how fast they wear out. Probably comparable to neumatic tires though - t35t0r, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2If you're in linux I just installed firefox 1.5.0.3 using wine 0.9.13 and then downloaded flash v8 using the windows firefox version. Then I installed flash using wine again. The flash v8 video works perfectly!
- trev0006, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1I hope they come out with better looking wheels. http://www.discountpartcenter.com/
- schmitey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1First you wouldn't get flats...unless you manage to somehow rip every one of the "spokes." So that's an improvement!
I have nearly two years of experience working in tire shops...and this truly will change everything. It is an innovation in stability and control, but there are some real issues that need to be worked out. For one I doubt that standard rims will work for the twire, as traditional tires' inflation pressure holds the tire to the bead (or edge) of the rim. Twires will have to be pressed on, glued, or some other way to secure it to the rim. The second and most important issue is what is the tread life like on these things. There is so much play in them you would have to rotate them like mad or else they would get really chopped, so I doubt they'd last more than 50k miles. And as sloppy as they seem what's the point of aligning your car, these things seem worse than having a loose tie rod! -
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