Why Airless Tires Are a Bad Idea

Airless Tire

Updated: May 2021

Wouldn't it be nice never to have to worry about getting a flat and being stuck on the side of a busy road in the Phoenix, AZ metro area again? Even if you have roadside assistance, no one feels safe waiting for help to arrive while traffic whizzes by at 80 miles per hour. It seems like there should be an answer. Wouldn't it be great if we could have airless tires for cars? Well, airless tires for trucks and cars do exist, but they are not the ideal solution you would expect.

Are Airless Tires New?

Airless tires, also known as non-pneumatic tires, have been around for a long time. You may have driven a vehicle that had them and not even known it.

If you've ever cut the lawn on riding a lawnmower, ridden in a golf cart, driven a military vehicle, or operated heavy equipment like a forklift, you have likely experienced the bumpy ride of airless tires. There are even non-pneumatic tires for bicycles.

Not only are they not a new concept, but Michelin has been working on them since the 1800s. In 1889, a cyclist approached the Michelin brothers André and Édouard to see if they could find a better alternative to the tires that were easily flattened on the poor roads. 

Édouard, an engineer, received a patent for a detachable-pneumatic tire in 1891. In 1895, the brothers Michelin mounted their airless tires on a vehicle for the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race. The blow of the last-place finish was softened by the sudden interest in the new tires.

Why Are We Talking About Them Now?

Michelin has announced the development of airless tires for cars that will be available in 2024.

This is without ever seeing their earlier prototype make it to the mass market. In 2005, Michelin introduced the world to the tweel. As you might have guessed, it was named for the design, a combination tire, and the wheel. Are you noticing a recurring trend with Michelin and airless tires?

The center of the tweel is solid and mounts to the vehicle's axle like a traditional wheel. Wedges of polyurethane wrap around the hub on the inner part, and have a band with tread around the outside. 

The combination of strong wedges and a taut band replace the traditional tire. However, unlike the tires we know, you can't alter the feel of the ride by adjusting the air pressure. Since there is no air, your only choice is to purchase another tweel with more give in the polyurethane spokes.

Now Michelin has the next-gen version in the works called the Uptis. This name is an acronym for Unique Puncture-proof Tire System. Engineering issues have prevented the widespread use of tweels for cars, so presumably, this new Uptis has improved upon the prototypes. Chevrolet worked with Michelin and started testing the Uptis on Chevrolet Bolt EVs in 2019.

Michelin touts the benefits of the Uptis as needing no maintenance. In fact, they advertise that the Michelin airless tires won't even have to be rotated. Since they don't go flat, you can get rid of that spare tire and reclaim your trunk space, as well.

So should everyone in Arizona be planning to run out and grab four of them? According to numerous sources, that may not be a good idea.

Why Aren't Airless Car Tires a Good Idea? 

Not having to worry about blowouts or flats is definitely an upside for non-pneumatic tires. Something else that makes ecologists happy is the environmentally conscious production of airless tires for trucks and cars.

The use of sustainable materials and the reduced CO2 emissions make the Michelin airless tires attractive. If they are truly low maintenance, that reduces their carbon footprint, as well. It sounds like there is a lot to like about these new Uptis tires.

It would be nice to think that, in just a few short years, we could have a better tire. While the prospective qualities sound positive, when compared to pneumatic tires, it still seems that the pros are far outweighed by the cons:

    • Heavy
    • Slow
    • Traps heat
    • Less comfortable
    • Inadequate suspension
    • Can be damaged
    • Lacks versatility

You might think that the tire with nothing but artificial rubber spokes would be lighter than a traditional tire. You would be wrong. They actually use compressed plastics and rubber tread to give the tire functionality, which in turn makes it heavy. Why is that important? Heavy tires equal less fuel economy.

If you envision racing through the countryside with no worries of a blowout, you may need to adjust your expectations. Michelin's tweels for cars have never been rated for anything but low-speed driving.

Part of the reason is that they trap heat. Without air, the heat created from the friction on the road cannot be dissipated, meaning increased chances of overheating, damage, or failure.

Non-pneumatic tires have increased rolling resistance. Rolling resistance means that the more surface area comes in contact with the road, the more drag on the vehicle.

With traditional tires aired to the correct PSI, the surface area is reduced, resulting in a smoother, quieter ride. Airless tires have inadequate suspension for an enjoyable road trip, sacrificing smoothness and sound buffering abilities, resulting in a less comfortable and much noisier ride.

The advertised lack of maintenance combined with no need for a spare would tend to indicate an almost indestructible tire. However, that is far from true. The spokes that create the main structure of the Michelin airless tires can be cut or torn, and the resulting damage can render them unusable.

Considering that they are susceptible to overheating, there is also a risk of the tread separating from the outer band and other heat-related deterioration.

If you are traveling across the country or even traveling in your home area during changing seasons, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the air pressure in your tires to adapt to different driving conditions.

For instance, it is recommended to reduce the PSI for driving in icy conditions to increase the tread's grip on the road. With airless tires, there is no way to adapt to changing weather conditions or road surfaces.

Will We Ever Get a Viable Airless Tire?

Technology has provided advances in design and manufacturing in the last few years that most would never have imagined. While off-roaders and adventurers alike are desperate for airless tires for trucks, it may still be a while.

If 2024 comes and goes without a realistic alternative to traditional tires, don't despair. There are more companies than just Michelin trying to develop a non-pneumatic tire.

If the tire companies can just give us a virtually indestructible, safe, affordable, and comfortable alternative, we would all be clamoring to buy them. Find a way to use only recycled and sustainably sourced materials, and they are almost there.

Produce them cleanly, and the tire company has a winner on all counts. With all the researchers working on it, it shouldn't be too much to ask. Until they can do that, they just are not a good idea.

 

To find out how you can get the most comfortable and dependable ride, come see us at Valley Chevy in Phoenix, Arizona or go online to shop, compare vehicles, and more.

Posted onPosted on by Joe Pelosi