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from the do-they-still-work-as-kid's-swings? dept.
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."
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by dltaylor on Wednesday July 15 2015, @10:15PM
Tires have a specific pressure recommendation, based on load. The exact same unit will have a different pressure recommendation based, in part, on the weight of the vehicle on which it is mounted and the load in the vehicle. These static cells cannot compensate for the varying operating conditions.
Add in temperature variations (the tires on my car have been exposed to -20F up to +120F) and altitude (sea level one morning, 7000 ft the next) and the usefulness of these tires seems to very limited.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 16 2015, @02:05PM
Add in temperature variations (the tires on my car have been exposed to -20F up to +120F) and altitude (sea level one morning, 7000 ft the next) and the usefulness of these tires seems to very limited.
That's an argument against air or other gas filled tyres, not for like you seem to think.