Airless Tire – Learn Everything You Need To Know

The automotive industry has evolved over the years. While rubber tires are the common ones for more than a century, these tires are prone to damage and wear out after a certain time. For that reason, the automotive industry came up with the idea of using non-pneumatic or airless tires.

These tires will be puncture-proof as they use a solid metal core and metal spokes instead of air. Let’s discuss airless tires, their working, and their benefits in more detail.

Design And Working Of Airless Tires
The puncture-proof tire system has been existing for a very long time. It was used in military vehicles and heavy machinery as these vehicles required durable and long-lasting tires. The concept of airless tires for passenger cars was put forward by Michelin in 2005 and Michelin\’s airless tire was named ‘Tweel’.

Design
The design of airless tires varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. The core design consists of three major parts:

• Inner hub: It is a solid part of the tire mounted over the car axle.
• Rubber spokes: Inner hub is attached to the rubber spokes. It is a rib providing the necessary cushion to the vehicle.
• Outer layer: It is a rubber sheet that comes in contact with the road or surface. This tire sheet saves the tire from being worn out due to the rolling friction.

Working
The working of airless tires is quite similar to that of normal tires. Since rubber spokes are flexible, they can be temporarily bent. And, when these rubber spokes are bent, they absorb pressure.

The airless tires can be manufactured with different spoke tensions. Besides, the greater the tension the better the handling. Alongside this, the lateral stiffness can be customized for better handling and ride comfort.

Benefits Of Airless Tires
The following are benefits of the airless tires:

No Spare Tires Will Be Required
Unlike pneumatic and normal tires, airless tires have rubber spokes that do not damage debris or potholes on the road. This makes these tires puncture-proof and excludes the concept of flat tires completely. Since there will be no flat tires, car owners won\’t have to take a spare tire every time they go out for a journey.

Eco-Friendly
Airless tires are manufactured from a lesser amount of rubber raw material than pneumatic tires. Moreover, the longer lifespan and durability of these tires help reduce waste. Additionally, the durability of airless tires delays the process of tire recycling making these tires environmentally friendly.

Reduced Carbon Emissions
Rolling friction of the pneumatic tires increases the carbon footprint of the cars. Speaking of that, airless tires have less rolling friction due to the rubber spoke being adjusted according to the driving conditions. The reduced friction decreases the carbon emissions from the cars.

This wraps our complete guide to airless tires. However, if your car has pneumatic tires, ensure checking tire pressure now and then. If the tire pressure sensors aren’t working, replace them with a new one from the leading TPMS manufacturer and supplier.