Tweel - Airless Offroad Tire

[sthrnfat]

Michelin came out with this concept some time ago and I've seen some versions of it on construction equipment, but it looks like they are working on offroad applications for the military. Would suck to have a flat while being shot at so it makes sense.

 

Would be interested in hear about the performance.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gHLi5No8dSY/SSGi.../s400/Honeycomb

 

http://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/200...w=450&h=338

 

Could be pretty cool for expedition type stuff out in the middle of nowhere.

Edited September 6, 2009 by sthrnfat

[GoPathyGo]

Yeah, there was a lot of excitement when the concept came out. Michelin had it on an Audi A4. Promised great things. That was in '05. Today all I could find on the Michelin website relating to Tweel is the following:

 

"Michelin is currently studying the use of TWEEL on smaller earthmoving machines." (Hmmm... Does a modded Pathy qualify ? )

 

Sad, really. Was a cool concept. Guess there was more money to be made in peddling tree-chopping, air-polluting, tread-separating, puncture-loving rubber tires. The cost of changing over would be huge anyway.

Edited September 6, 2009 by GoPathyGo

[Jeenyus]

those would be just like my bobcat tires