Michelin’s radical new Tweel announced in January this year looks set to be the next big thing in tyre technology but recent news from Amerityre on a very similar technology suggests there will be strong competition in the airless tyre market, as more than one manufacturer is close to market. Amerityre has successfully completed high-speed testing of its experimental non-pneumatic or “zero-pressure” polyurethane tyre in testing for FMVSS 129 compliance, the safety standard governing the testing of non-pneumatic car tyres. The advantages of the polyurethane tyre are many according to Amerityre including much cooler running temperatures (less wear), much lower rolling resistance (amounting to a reported 10% decrease in fuel consumption) and the ability to produce a complete tyre inside a few minutes significantly simplifying and reducing the cost of the manufacturing process.



The zero pressure spare tyre is under development by Amerityre in response to a growing concern among consumers and government agencies such as The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for post-crash fires caused by fuel leakage in high-impact rear collisions. A high-pressure pneumatic spare tyre’s close proximity, in most cases, to the fuel tank can be an explosion hazard for vehicles involved in high-impact rear collisions. A zeropressure spare tyre reduces the risk of causing an explosion.



In addition to collision safety, Amerityre’s objective is to offer equal or better performance to that of comparable rubber high-pressure spare tyres. Although the tyre is being developed for “temporary” use, Amerityre believes that a zero-pressure spare tyre can be safely operated at 50 mph for over 2,000 miles. Consumers won’t need to worry about air pressure in polyurethane elastomer spare tyres, unlike traditional high-pressure spare tyres, which lose pressure through permeation over time. Loss in air pressure greatly affects the performance of a high-pressure spare tyre. The zero pressure spare tyre, on the other hand, will give drivers an always ready solution in the event of a failed pneumatic tyre.



During testing the polyurethane elastomer compound tyre showed great results. The test tyre ran at 50 miles per hour with increasing loads for beyond the required 34 hours.





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I don't think this will do very well in the motorsports industry.

 

I really like the idea of using it as a spare, though.

 

Yeah but if you painted them to match your rims, it would like like you had 30's! Aeeeey aaaaaaeey!

 

If I can ge them in spinners, I'm cool.

 

not for the motorsport industry... saw the video of when they were on the audi... and they do look pretty cool

 

Weird...they sorta look like bicycle wheels.

 

Yea I saw the video of the audi.

Seemed like it could take the abuse of the track with no problems.

oh and WTLW n00b

 

post the link to the video please

 

wheres the video???

 

i saw a thead started by top notch and i was like , "WTF M8!!!!!! he back?!?!?!?!?!"

then i looked at the dates, haha.

 

Same.

 

tobad you couldnt use em on any road bumpier than glass or at any speed... can you say dented rim?

 

WTF are you talking about?

 

I think he's talking about the picture of the Audi rim at the bottom. If you hit that lip in the road at a good speed I could see how the "fins" of the tire would flex enough that the rim would hit the road. The tire on the cat would not hit the road considering that it's only metal around the hub.

 

If the audi had traditional wheels and tires and hit the same bump at speed the wheel would be bent too.