A flat tire is certainly one of the biggest headaches you can encounter in driving. However, cooperation between tire maker Michelin and automaker General Motors is supposed to turn the tires into a thing of the past.
Michelin announced this week that after years of research, they are ready to raise the new, unique tire with Unique Puncture-proof Tire System called UPTIS.
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GM will start testing the Uptis in Michigan by the end of the year on Chevy Bolts, and expects to reach production by 2024. The automaker hasn’t named specific car models that will use the Uptis tires.
The new tire is made of rubber and fiberglass material that gives it durability. It is actually a more advanced version of an airless tire that Michelin unveiled 15 years ago as the Tweel. Unfortunately, the earlier version was loud and less comfortable. Michelin seems to have been able to overcome these problems.
Airless tires have a number of advantages over traditional design. For example, there is no danger of annoying puncture or dangerous explosion of the wheel. This also means a reduction in the amount of waste. According to Michelin, the new tire will help save 2 million tons of waste per year, as fewer tires will be thrown into the trash before they finish their life cycle.
The new tire also allows for the reduction in the use of raw materials, energy and production, and in accordance with greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of replacement wheels, which will no longer be necessary. By not having to include a more spare wheel, cars will become easier and more efficient.
The airless tires will help companies managing a fleet of cars manage their operations more efficiently. They will not have to waste time on tires that are destroyed or invest in tire maintenance, which includes tests of damage and pressure measurements.
Testing the tire on the ground in prominent Chevrolet cars will allow engineers to check to what extent the tire manages to cope with a variety of surfaces and weather conditions.
