Wonder if they'll make them in our load range.

[Forrest]

http://www.michelinman.com/difference/releases/pressrelease01102005a.html





http://www.freshcreation.nl/comments.php?id=277_0_1_0_C

 

[Extreme1]

It's about time!!!



I read a report on these almost 20 years ago in an AutoWeek article. At the time the cast plastic hub had a replacable rubber ring pressed onto it. Very similar to these units.



This will open up the parameters of tire/wheel design considerably. When the article was written, the tire company had an Escort with 4 prototype tires on it. The invited a bunch of competetive drivers to test it and let the Pro Ralley guys have it last. They found a back road and came back very impressed. I recall one of them saying that they hit things that would have destroyed 2 of the tires if they were pneumatic, the prototypes wern't damaged at all.



As for load capability, no problem.

 

[Mundgyver]

These are interesting. One thought occured to me though. We always hear about somebody (usually kids) running around slashing tires. Not a common thing, but it does happen. With a regular tire, you have to replace it as I don't know of any side wall repair that will last.



I suppose that these would help prevent that, but I am sure somebody will figure out a way to screw them up. These look like they would be costly to replace as they are not commin place now. How would you mount this on the rims. Does it just slide on or can you replace the rubber tread by itself? Lots of variables here.



Some how I just can not quite see these on a truck with a Cummins motor.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Some how I just can not quite see these on a truck with a Cummins motor.

I'm just trying to get a visual of what it would look like in the wheel wells. :-laf



Jim

 

[EricBu12]

heres what an Audi looks like

 

[MMeier]

At least It's a Michelin idea, and not Goodyears!!

 

[RDHamill]

I wonder what some snow,ice or mud would do to the balance?

What about white letters? :-laf :-laf

Seriously, I"d think that they'd run cool. .

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I wonder what some snow,ice or mud would do to the balance?

What about white letters? :-laf :-laf

Seriously, I"d think that they'd run cool. .

I was wondering about the balance myself.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

production versions will have sidewalls and look just like every tire on the road

 

[Forrest]

production versions will have sidewalls and look just like every tire on the road

aaaah ... like run-flats.

 

[CRuth]

Interesting. I wonder how that might work on my Jeep

 

[Forrest Nearing]

probably hard to "air down" though!

 

[nickleinonen]

With a regular tire, you have to replace it as I don't know of any side wall repair that will last.

i had a sidewall puncture on some bfg at's 265's when i had my tahoe... there was a local tire shop up in thunder bay that did recap's and other tire repairs. . they did a sidewall patch [revulconized] and those tires i wore down past the wear bars [patch went in at about 1/8" tread worn from new]

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I've done plug n' patch on so many of my own sidewalls, it's not funny



but I won't do it on someone else's for liability reasons

 

[Extreme1]

I recall a tire plug sales rep that would have the shop he was showing the plugs to drill a hole in his tire and then he's plug it. I don't know how many plugs he had installed on his car but I bet there were dozens, many in the sidewall.



One thing that will have to be changed is the federal tire specification, it refers to holding air.