looks like some new tire technology out there!
http://www.sportbilen.se/e_ind...id=89
notice the unique wheel design, not sure how they get that tweel on there, no bead to or lip to contain the tire, just a Al drum center!
this is an excerpt from the article...
Michelin has also found that it can tune Tweel performances independently of each other, which is a significant change from conventional tires. This means that vertical stiffness (which primarily affects ride comfort) and lateral stiffness (which affects handling and cornering) can both be optimized, pushing the performance envelope in these applications and enabling new performances not possible for current inflated tires. The Tweel prototype, demonstrated on the Audi A4, is within five percent of the rolling resistance and mass levels of current pneumatic tires. That translates to within one percent of the fuel economy of the OE fitment. Additionally, Michelin has increased the lateral stiffness by a factor of five, making the prototype unusually responsive in its handling.
a unique compromise between performance and comfort! definitely a market out there, just wonder if this will ever see production in the future? Maybe into the world of motor sports? who knows, an engineering accomplishment for sure!
-nate
:edit: looks like they do not like me steeling their band width, the picture might randomly change to some Flintstones car...
Modified by Nate at 8:43 AM 1/11/2005
Modified by Nate at 8:46 AM 1/11/2005
Modified by Nate at 12:34 PM 1/11/2005
http://www.sportbilen.se/e_ind...id=89
notice the unique wheel design, not sure how they get that tweel on there, no bead to or lip to contain the tire, just a Al drum center!
this is an excerpt from the article...
Michelin has also found that it can tune Tweel performances independently of each other, which is a significant change from conventional tires. This means that vertical stiffness (which primarily affects ride comfort) and lateral stiffness (which affects handling and cornering) can both be optimized, pushing the performance envelope in these applications and enabling new performances not possible for current inflated tires. The Tweel prototype, demonstrated on the Audi A4, is within five percent of the rolling resistance and mass levels of current pneumatic tires. That translates to within one percent of the fuel economy of the OE fitment. Additionally, Michelin has increased the lateral stiffness by a factor of five, making the prototype unusually responsive in its handling.
a unique compromise between performance and comfort! definitely a market out there, just wonder if this will ever see production in the future? Maybe into the world of motor sports? who knows, an engineering accomplishment for sure!
-nate
:edit: looks like they do not like me steeling their band width, the picture might randomly change to some Flintstones car...
Modified by Nate at 8:43 AM 1/11/2005
Modified by Nate at 8:46 AM 1/11/2005
Modified by Nate at 12:34 PM 1/11/2005
Junior Member
Oh man, no sidewalls... how am I gonna Armor All my tweels!>!?!
They look heavy, although the missing sidewall might compensate for the extra rubber ribs
Honda-Tech Member
Those are going to look sweet packed with mud. Who buys 14" wheels anyway?
Senior Member
What the ????
That sure is strange.
SO would they be considered runflats?
That sure is strange.
SO would they be considered runflats?
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
SO would they be considered runflats?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Probably not, because they don't get "flat" to begin with!
SO would they be considered runflats?
</TD></TR></TABLE>Probably not, because they don't get "flat" to begin with!
Member
Wonder what they weigh packed with snow/ice? They will sure make it hard to adjust the ride/handling compromise with air pressure.
be professional
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mohudsolo »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wonder what they weigh packed with snow/ice? They will sure make it hard to adjust the ride/handling compromise with air pressure.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Looking at the design and the pictures, it appears that it would have a lot of lateral stiffness, but not so much bump stiffness.
Looking at the design and the pictures, it appears that it would have a lot of lateral stiffness, but not so much bump stiffness.
Junior Member
Is that prototype just a cross section? I am assuming that they will put a sidewall on the production version, cause where else would they put their michelin man logo?
thats probably a good point. they wouldnt really market them as shown. it would probably require a protective layer anyway to keep stuff out.
If you look at the caterpillar wheels(tweels), the cross section doesn't look like it's made of rubber nor does the article specify what material it is.
Maybe it's some sort of flexible plastic? That would alleviate the weight concerns somewhat AND make the tire stiffer, I would think.
Maybe it's some sort of flexible plastic? That would alleviate the weight concerns somewhat AND make the tire stiffer, I would think.
More info here: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/c...tm?1c
Polyurethane spokes, no heavier or lighter than regular tires.
Polyurethane spokes, no heavier or lighter than regular tires.
Junior Member
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D.CACO »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is that prototype just a cross section? I am assuming that they will put a sidewall on the production version, cause where else would they put their michelin man logo?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I would hope so becuase I can imagine everyone in New England with snow in 1/2 of the wheel would have some MAJOR oscllations at highway speeds throwing the balance wayyyy off. ThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThump ThumpThumpThump
Great concept. Michelin are the people that invented the radial tire in the 40s... which wasn't that accepted until the 70s. So I figure by 2020 we'll start seeing these on cars.
What PSi do I put in them for auto-x?
More to the point... there's only 4 pieces that make the Tweel whereas a Wheel/tire has something like 20+. Also, they say you'd be able to re-tread them.... so you buy one or two tweels with different compounds and all you'd have to replace are the treads instead of the whole tweel.
--kC
I would hope so becuase I can imagine everyone in New England with snow in 1/2 of the wheel would have some MAJOR oscllations at highway speeds throwing the balance wayyyy off. ThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThumpThump ThumpThumpThump
Great concept. Michelin are the people that invented the radial tire in the 40s... which wasn't that accepted until the 70s. So I figure by 2020 we'll start seeing these on cars.
What PSi do I put in them for auto-x?
More to the point... there's only 4 pieces that make the Tweel whereas a Wheel/tire has something like 20+. Also, they say you'd be able to re-tread them.... so you buy one or two tweels with different compounds and all you'd have to replace are the treads instead of the whole tweel.
--kC
Hmm. Just add a box of drywall screws and they'd make great ice racing tires...I mean tweels. 
Junior Member
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tjbizzo »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmm. Just add a box of drywall screws and they'd make great ice racing tires...I mean tweels. </TD></TR></TABLE>
NICE!
</TD></TR></TABLE>NICE!
bump
overrated.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tjbizzo »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmm. Just add a box of drywall screws and they'd make great ice racing tires...I mean tweels. </TD></TR></TABLE>
hahaha, there you go!
</TD></TR></TABLE>hahaha, there you go!