Who needs tires...how about Tweels?

[BigJon]

http://autoshow.msn.com/as/article.aspx?xml=Michelin&shw=autoshow2005&src=autoshow2005Coverage

Michelin unveiled a new design for cars utilizing a "Tweel"...a tire and a wheel integrated into one. No need for inflated tires and air...it uses "poly-urethene flexible spokes" to act as the tire. It acts as a suspension system on it's own....

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/as/autoshow2005/photos/l_michelin-104.jpg

Check out the vid on the site too...pretty damn cool.

[ski]

I watched the video... wow.. I'm amazed. I'm really interested to see how this is going to be marketed/employed.

[BigJon]

My only concern is how sturdy are they? In the video you can see the tweels bend side to side as the wheel turns. I just hope they are mounted on sturdy enough that the spokes don't bend too far sideways and make the tweel separate (pulling the urethene and rim apart).

[DarkFury]

Now how can we put "spinners" on that? :heh:

[SecretIkon]

i think people will find a way to put spinners on those.

[kei2]

That's freaking awesome. That said, I wouldn't buy them until they've been in production a few years. Makes me wonder if someday tires will be a thing of the past, like human-driven cars in I,Robot or eX-Driver.

[DankNstickY]

i think people will find a way to put spinners on those.

unfortunately

[nate el bueno]

how long do they last?

[civicdidex]

it looks as if hard turns would rip those to shreds...

[attgig]

and how much would they be for a normal production car?

[revil]

and how much would they be for a normal production car?
with or without air?

[bachviet]

unfortunately
You can't pimp withou spinners. :)

[djsusm]

man.. I can't imagine those lasting though a drift track ;) But for normal driving, they seem awesome!! Who says we shouldn't re-invent the wheel?