Comments on: Michelin Tweel – The Airless Tire http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/ Specialization is for Insects. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:07:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Buying Online Tires » Blog Archive » The Future of Tires? http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-15695 Buying Online Tires » Blog Archive » The Future of Tires? Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:09:42 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-15695 [...] It certainly simplifies the tire solution, but looks terrible! It’d be great to know what you think. Read a full article on the tweel here. [...] [...] It certainly simplifies the tire solution, but looks terrible! It’d be great to know what you think. Read a full article on the tweel here. [...]

]]> By: Peter B http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14650 Peter B Tue, 04 Sep 2007 02:46:42 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14650 Yep, there are reasons why they make wheels the way they do. Retreading isn't always the optimal thing to do with a worn tyre, and they're never as good or as safe as an original whole tyre. Like I said: great idea in theory - but that's theory for you. Yep, there are reasons why they make wheels the way they do. Retreading isn’t always the optimal thing to do with a worn tyre, and they’re never as good or as safe as an original whole tyre.

Like I said: great idea in theory – but that’s theory for you.

]]> By: Dave http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14577 Dave Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:18:48 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14577 There having a problem right now with vibration over 50mph. I haven't seen the issue addressed of snow getting packed into the spokes or how extreme cold or heat would affect them. There having a problem right now with vibration over 50mph. I haven’t seen the issue addressed of snow getting packed into the spokes or how extreme cold or heat would affect them.

]]> By: John P. http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14492 John P. Sun, 02 Sep 2007 01:02:27 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14492 But they claim that it can be re-treaded. So if that is the case you wouldn't have to toss it, you just need it refurbished... John But they claim that it can be re-treaded. So if that is the case you wouldn’t have to toss it, you just need it refurbished…

John

]]> By: Peter B http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14472 Peter B Sat, 01 Sep 2007 23:37:10 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14472 It flies in the face of the reality of why (most) cars are relatively cheap to begin with - they are made up of readily replaceable and modular parts. Having a combo tyre/wheel goes against the production line theories of having mass=produced and cheap parts. If you trash the tweel, you're up for the whole thing, rather than just the cheaper cost of say , a tyre, or a hubcap, or a wheel. That's the reason why cars are made up of so many smaller parts - to avoid having to pay for larger composite components. So, the tweel may not the mind-blowing idea it's touted to be. It flies in the face of the reality of why (most) cars are relatively cheap to begin with – they are made up of readily replaceable and modular parts.

Having a combo tyre/wheel goes against the production line theories of having mass=produced and cheap parts. If you trash the tweel, you’re up for the whole thing, rather than just the cheaper cost of say , a tyre, or a hubcap, or a wheel.

That’s the reason why cars are made up of so many smaller parts – to avoid having to pay for larger composite components.

So, the tweel may not the mind-blowing idea it’s touted to be.

]]> By: Johny http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14084 Johny Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:35:37 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14084 looks pretty amazing, the next step should be suspensions inside the wheels, u can stiffen or soften them with a touch from inside the car while driving :) I'm also wondering if they will leave the sides open, i think it will give some aerodynamic boost, somehow like the rims do... looks pretty amazing, the next step should be suspensions inside the wheels, u can stiffen or soften them with a touch from inside the car while driving :) I’m also wondering if they will leave the sides open, i think it will give some aerodynamic boost, somehow like the rims do…

]]> By: Eric http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14053 Eric Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:50:21 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14053 Again, the most simple idea's are the best. he's gonna be a rich man if Michelin is going to reward him for his invention. It's that simple anybody could think of it Again, the most simple idea’s are the best.
he’s gonna be a rich man if Michelin is going to reward him for his invention.

It’s that simple anybody could think of it

]]> By: Eric http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14025 Eric Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:46:10 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14025 I first heard about this technology through my cousin, who unfortunately also said the same thing about his. But necessity is the mother of invention and with the environmental concerns right now, perhaps this is the right time for something like this to come through. I've been putting off re-inflating my tires in my car for months and it's been costing me at least 3-4 MPG. To never have to worry about that again.. would be sublime :) I first heard about this technology through my cousin, who unfortunately also said the same thing about his.

But necessity is the mother of invention and with the environmental concerns right now, perhaps this is the right time for something like this to come through.

I’ve been putting off re-inflating my tires in my car for months and it’s been costing me at least 3-4 MPG.

To never have to worry about that again.. would be sublime :)

]]> By: John P. http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14023 John P. Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:33:45 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14023 Yeah, back when I was mountain biking regularly I tried some of those tires, but quickly gave them up for the same reasons. They are heavier, slower and uugh, I just hated them. The interesting thing about these Tweels is that they should weigh the same as regular tires (though I bet they'll eventually be lighter) but they will actually outperform traditional tires. So, we won't really be giving anything up when they become available. There is one problem though. Since Michelin surely holds patent on them, there won't be any competition unless they license the technology. That means prices will be high! The only hope is that because they will still have to compete with regular tires perhaps they'll keep the prices at least out of the insane range. I keep wondering how <a href="http://onemansblog.com/2006/10/29/the-nsx-begins-the-journey-home/" rel="nofollow">my NSX</a> would look with some of these suckers on it. ;-) John Yeah, back when I was mountain biking regularly I tried some of those tires, but quickly gave them up for the same reasons. They are heavier, slower and uugh, I just hated them.

The interesting thing about these Tweels is that they should weigh the same as regular tires (though I bet they’ll eventually be lighter) but they will actually outperform traditional tires. So, we won’t really be giving anything up when they become available.

There is one problem though. Since Michelin surely holds patent on them, there won’t be any competition unless they license the technology. That means prices will be high! The only hope is that because they will still have to compete with regular tires perhaps they’ll keep the prices at least out of the insane range.

I keep wondering how my NSX would look with some of these suckers on it. ;-)

John

]]> By: Derek Wong http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14021 Derek Wong Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:20:55 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14021 I've heard of this tire, but I don't very often think about it. Thanks for the information, and I think that it seems true that eventually this will be more pervasive in the tire market. It just makes sense because it eliminates certain problems that currently exist (popped tires, maintain pressure, etc). Hopefully they will have the motivation to really push this through until it gets to the consumer because it sure seems like a good idea to me! I’ve heard of this tire, but I don’t very often think about it. Thanks for the information, and I think that it seems true that eventually this will be more pervasive in the tire market. It just makes sense because it eliminates certain problems that currently exist (popped tires, maintain pressure, etc). Hopefully they will have the motivation to really push this through until it gets to the consumer because it sure seems like a good idea to me!

]]> By: Donncha O Caoimh http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14004 Donncha O Caoimh Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:05:16 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/08/31/michelin-tweel-the-airless-tire/#comment-14004 That's pretty cool. Saves space in the car by not having a spare tire in the boot! Adam Tow recently blogged about air-free tires on his bike: http://www.tow.com/2007/08/28/more-on-air-free-tires/ Obviously the application is different. The spokes and make up of the tire in this product is quite a step up from simple bicycle tires! Hopefully these do reach the market sooner rather than later .. That’s pretty cool. Saves space in the car by not having a spare tire in the boot! Adam Tow recently blogged about air-free tires on his bike: http://www.tow.com/2007/08/28/more-on-air-free-tires/
Obviously the application is different. The spokes and make up of the tire in this product is quite a step up from simple bicycle tires! Hopefully these do reach the market sooner rather than later ..

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