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These Futuristic Car Tires Never Go Flat

posted by janrinok on Wednesday July 15 2015, @09:46AM   Printer-friendly
from the do-they-still-work-as-kid's-swings? dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

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."

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  • (Score: 2) by CRCulver on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:13PM

    by CRCulver (4390) on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:13PM (#210008) Homepage
    Again, maybe you should have chosen better components.
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  • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:40PM

    by urza9814 (3954) on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:40PM (#210022) Journal

    Well, that just changes the location of the problem slightly. Because you can get a decent car by just showing up to the lot and picking something that seems alright...but you're saying I need to be an expert and build the entire damn thing myself to get a decent bike?

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by CRCulver on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:46PM

      by CRCulver (4390) on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:46PM (#210027) Homepage
      You don't have to build it yourself. Companies like Surly, Rivendell, Thorn, or Co-Motion will sell you a ready-made bike featuring the same high-end touring components, which also serve very well as low-maintenance commuters. (That's what I did when it came time to get my wife's bike, though I personally am happy I built my own bike first, as now I understand how everything fits together).