Michelin Uptis

1,713 Views | 9 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by TMoney2007
Ciboag96
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Which one of you is going to stick these on your ride and report out to us?

Airless Tires


PMD03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I needed these tires after Harvey when 90% of the houses in my city were getting roofing work done. Between my wife and I we had four flats from nails in 12 months.
spieg12
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Tweels are already on mowers and skid steers and they are bad ass. They also have a big price. Rear tweels for a zero turn mower are $600 a piece. I don't see how car versions can be priced low enough to make sense for the average consumer. Car tires get replaced way more often than mower wheels.
sts7049
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
well if these have a longer life then the initial investment may be high but you'd save on replacing tires less often
EMY92
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I haven't replaced a tire for anything other than wear in decades.

Preventing a flat isn't a pressing concern for me.
spieg12
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
The article says the tread should last about as long as a regular tire. Maybe slightly longer since the tire will never be over or underinflated.
sts7049
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
ah, ok. i admit i didn't read it. in that case it will be a tough sell.
Goose
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I don't understand the connection between the headline-advertised "puncture proof" benefit, and debuting them on a Chevy Bolt electric vehicle.

How much discussion was there during the focus group along the lines of, "You know, I love this compact electric vehicle a lot. But when I take it off road or into construction sites, it seems like I'm dealing with way too many flat tires. Anything that can be done about that???"
ccolley68
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I would think they had to find something small and light enough to use those initially, and Chevy unveiling their new electric car was probably all about pairing them up. I doubt they have the ability yet to put these out for heavier weighted vehicles like trucks and SUB's, though those would be the primary market of people at risk of popping tires off road or in construction sites.

I don't doubt they have the ability to have these types of tires for heavier vehicles (as another poster noted they have them for mowers and heavy equipment already), they just don't have one economical enough to justify it yet. A skid steer or something on a construction site that rarely touches pavement, and never at high speeds, may never need to replace the tires through the life of the equipment itself. Investment in the expensive tires upfront is a no brained. But if I have an 8,500lb truck and would have to replace these tires at the same interval as my current tires, I'll stick with the cheaper option.

I also think lifespan is an issue they will have to overcome, and quickly. If small light vehicles are the only thing these can work for (only speculation), the granola folks who have them won't have any concern for flats, but if you can extend the life to 2x a standard tire or something, they will be more interested to reduce waste on something that never goes away, like an old tire.

My personal biggest concern would be the rigidity of it. It's fine for a construction piece that never moves quickly and 'performance' is no concern. But when I fling that 8,500 lb truck around a turn on the highway at 75mph, and there's been a lot of miles out on those tires, will it hold up to the turn, or will it crumple and maybe roll the truck?
Jack Cheese
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Goose said:

I don't understand the connection between the headline-advertised "puncture proof" benefit, and debuting them on a Chevy Bolt electric vehicle.

How much discussion was there during the focus group along the lines of, "You know, I love this compact electric vehicle a lot. But when I take it off road or into construction sites, it seems like I'm dealing with way too many flat tires. Anything that can be done about that???"

I think they don't have to waste space or weight on a spare and jack.
TMoney2007
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I think car and light truck/SUV/Crossover will be the applications to start out. IF they move them into heavier applications it will be down the line. Like you said, the combination of speed and load can cause problems.
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.