Now, Hankook has completed initial testing on its fifth-generation airless tire, dubbed the iFlex. The tires do not require any air pressure, instead relying on a new type of eco-friendly material (Hancook demurs when asked for details). Geometric shapes built into the material provide the bounce and springiness normally provided by air pressure. But, unlike the previous iFlex, this version's designed to mount onto a traditional rim, making it compatible with current vehicles.
Hankook ran the iFlex through a battery of tests to compare it to more conventional rubber, measuring durability, hardness, stability, slalom and speed, at up to 80 mph. The company says the tires matched conventional tires in terms of performance.
Anyone who got a flat from the epidemic of potholes this Spring or who is plagued by nails and other road debris that cause slow leaks will welcome this development. Naturally, the real question is whether it's spelled, "tire" or "tyre."
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 15 2015, @12:51PM
Why can't I throw down some dough and get a bicycle as reliable and maintenance free as my modern Japanese car?
It's simple really... It's planned obsolescence combined with some social engineering: if you have money to spend on a bike, then you must have dispensable income. Because think about it, good workers/wage-serfs don't need bike nor can they afford it. After all, wage-serfs should take the bus.
But if you do, then you must have more of it than what you give the bike shop already, so you are a target to dispense of as much of your DI as possible at the bike shop. Really, they're just trying to make sure you spend as much of your DI there instead of somewhere else.