Airless Tires for Military Vehicles

I wonder if they got inspiration from this (though it's not 'honeycomb' design):

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tweel-airless-tire.htm

They have had these types of tires in the military for years already. If they get damaged, they re-inflate. Same concept. I highly doubt the soldiers care what their tires look like. The ones now work just fine.

Pfft! America's best selling car already has flat-proof tires ...

Airless tyres aren't new - this an old idea developed a bit. I love the way companies claim what they're doing is New and Revolutionary when it's been done decades before.

I was going to add these things have been new for 20? 30? years....but Von SkippenViesel beat me to it.

"Airless tyres aren’t new" D'uh!
Of course not: all tires were airless before John Dunlop invented the air filled tyre and tube in 1888.

Since air tyres have many advantages above 'solid' ones, they are preferred for most usuge. However, as stated in the article above, running flat isn't one of them.

Hence, the world is still developing an airless tyre with as many of the pros of an inflatable tyre, without as many of the cons. And the major con is their driving behaviour.

So: Yes, there have been and were airless tyres before, but this is supposed to be an improvement on exactly THAT concept.

I mean: cars have been around for 125 years, and they have been improved over time. "Cars aren't new..." *sigh*

DeLuxe - yes, but specifically this sort of lattice structure to replace the springing effect of air isn't new. Someone's already pointed out the Tweel and there are other examples of prior art, too.

I've suspected for decades that a spongy lattice would probably make a tire impervious to flats. I inquired about this, and was always met with puzzled looks and "Never saw nothin' like that." I figured that the reason we don't use them is because such tires would be too heavy, or grow too hot, make the ride too bumpy, or would have no problems but reduce tire sales due to greater efficiency. Only 35 seconds ago I'm discovering that such tires have been around for some time! I HATE being kept out-of-the-loop like that. I currently drive a 1999 Hyundai Accent. Is it possible for me to get flat-proof tires for it? If so, where would I look?

Curious to dig up the patent application, considering the Tweel pretty much constitutes prior art, and the Tweel might have a patent of its own.

i can't imagine this will ever be as cost effective as inflated tires, but for specific purposes like military vehicles it makes a lot of sense.

not sure the idea of an airless tire can be patented but the visual design can, and the structure in how it is made can as well. thats why we see 2 entirely different designs from the this to the twill. but we still have not seen a peppermint candy spiral strip or a spiderweb design, which would work as well.

Has any of you ever drove with a tire out of balance? Just think what will happen when mud gets packed in that wheel.

LOL Alex ;)

Brett maxwell this kind of tires can be highly cost-effective, because the chosen cell-pattern can be made with an extruder as a near endless compartmented tube with threads and all. That tube can be cut to pieces and then fitted on axles. That is a way to mass-produce and to cheaply make LOTS of tires at a fraction of the compexity of conventional tires.

Jimbo this kind of tires is mainly for heavy-duty use- so not the high speeds of 65mls p/h and higher, but rather the lower speeds of military use during patrols and off-road actions. Some inbalance in such wheels is barely an issue at such speeds.

Favoid pattern again, anyone?

Better put some sidewalls on those things. Around here that honeycomb would get clogged with mud and gravel, which would tear it up pretty quickly.

Okay, so most anyone with a moderate knowledge of automobile history will likely know about solid rubber tires and their precursory role in relation to the pneumatic variety.

I find it interesting that this same latticed concept of solid/flexible hybrid has also been around nearly as long.

Behold the Trublproof tire from 1920, via the Shorpy blog:
http://www.shorpy.com/node/5270?size=_original