Would You Drive With Airless Tires?

by TTAC Staff

Published: January 5th, 2024

Photo Credit: Michelin

The automotive industry has witnessed a revolutionary development with the introduction of airless tire technology. This innovation eliminates the need for air in tires, offering a more stable and reliable driving experience. It effectively addresses the common issues of flat tires and rapid pressure loss, enhancing safety and comfort for drivers.

Michelin's Role in Airless Tire Innovation

Michelin is leading this technological advancement with its Unique Puncture-proof Tire System (UPTIS) prototype. Designed for passenger cars, UPTIS was first showcased at the Movin’On summit in 2019. This marks a crucial step towards making airless tire technology widely available.

The Composition and Advantages of UPTIS

UPTIS distinguishes itself with its composition, merging an aluminum wheel and a flexible load-bearing structure crafted from glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP). This structure preserves Michelin's known tire performance while being adaptable for high-speed use, a feature not seen in previous airless tire models.

Benefits Across the Board

UPTIS introduces several advantages:

For Motorists: Eliminates concerns about tire damage from road conditions.
For Fleet Owners: Boosts productivity by minimizing vehicle downtime and tire-related maintenance.
Environmental Benefits: Significantly cuts down tire waste, reducing environmental waste and harm.

Tackling Tire Waste

Each year, a substantial portion of tires are discarded due to punctures, pressure loss, and uneven wear. UPTIS aims to lessen this waste, potentially saving around 200 million tires, equivalent to 2 million tonnes, from disposal.

UPTIS: Shaping the Future of Mobility

Beyond traditional vehicles, UPTIS is also tailored for emerging clean and autonomous mobility solutions. It's especially useful for shared mobility services, including autonomous shuttles and vehicle fleets.

Partnerships and Practical Applications

Michelin's dedication is further demonstrated through its collaboration with DHL, equipping delivery vehicles in Singapore with UPTIS. Real-world tests are underway in various locations like Las Vegas and Thailand, showcasing UPTIS’s durability and effectiveness.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.

TTAC Staff

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1 comment

JoeTaco on Jan 07, 2024
“This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.” That explains why it reads like a press release.

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Recent Comments

Mike-NB2 This is a mostly uninformed vote, but I'll go with the Mazda 3 too.I haven't driven a new Civic, so I can't say anything about it, but two weeks ago I had a 2023 Corolla as a rental. While I can understand why so many people buy these, I was surprised at how bad the CVT is. Many rentals I've driven have a CVT and while I know it has one and can tell, they aren't usually too bad. I'd never own a car with a CVT, but I can live with one as a rental. But the Corolla's CVT was terrible. It was like it screamed "CVT!" the whole time. On the highway with cruise control on, I could feel it adjusting to track the set speed. Passing on the highway (two-lane) was risky. The engine isn't under-powered, but the CVT makes it seem that way.A minor complaint is about the steering. It's waaaay over-assisted. At low speeds, it's like a 70s LTD with one-finger effort. Maybe that's deliberate though, given the Corolla's demographic.
Mike-NB2 2019 Ranger - 30,000 miles / 50,000 km. Nothing but oil changes. Original tires are being replaced a week from Wednesday. (Not all that mileage is on the original A/S tires. I put dedicated winter rims/tires on it every winter.)2024 - Golf R - 1700 miles / 2800 km. Not really broken in yet. Nothing but gas in the tank.
SaulTigh I've got a 2014 F150 with 87K on the clock and have spent exactly $4,180.77 in maintenance and repairs in that time. That's pretty hard to beat.Hard to say on my 2019 Mercedes, because I prepaid for three years of service (B,A,B) and am getting the last of those at the end of the month. Did just drop $1,700 on new Michelins for it at Tire Rack. Tires for the F150 late last year were under $700, so I'd say the Benz is roughly 2 to 3 times as pricy for anything over the Ford.I have the F150 serviced at a large independent shop, the Benz at the dealership.
Bike Rather have a union negotiating my pay rises with inflation at the moment.
Bike Poor Redapple won't be sitting down for a while after opening that can of Whiparse