Michelin invented the radial tyre fifty years ago. The first tubeless tyre was invented 100 years ago. Now the tyre has been reinvented again.
The next step in tyre technology has been unveiled. The Tweel is a simple looking hub and spoke design which eliminates the need for air pressure.
How does it work?
Flexible spokes are fused with a flexible wheel which deforms to absorb shock. The Tweel also has a unique capability to have different vertical and lateral stiffness.
Vertical stiffness affects ride comfort, and lateral stiffness affects handling and cornering. The ability to tune these two parameters differently allows the best of both worlds, ride comfort and superb handling!
It sounds good and works well, but I have to say it looks pretty ugly.
Perhaps Michelin could find some way to eliminate those gaping see-through holes for the final production model. Maybe with a covered sidewall. I think the wheel is currently ‘naked’ to demonstrate how the inner spokes bend across surfaces.
The Tweel is not only for cars. Bulldozers can use them too.
Works well over rocky terrains like this, so it should work well for 4WDs too. You can see how the outer thread and the spokes bend to go over the uneven surface.
The Tweel on an Audi. Because of the spokes I think we can say goodbye to the large sports rims with low profile tyres look. The Tweel seems to use a small hub with large spokes.
An Audi A4 on the track running on Tweels. Michelin has increased lateral stiffness over normal air-pressure tyres by a factor of FIVE, giving the car unbelievable handling properties.
How far are we from mass-production and how much will it cost? Michelin says radial tyres will be the standard for a long long time to come, but research gained from the Tweel is helping it develop reinvent the way future vehicles move. Things like checking tyre pressure, fixing flat tyres, and balancing between traction and comfort could all fade into memory.
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"Perhaps Michelin could find some way to eliminate those gaping see-through holes for the final production model"
Understand your point... But if you take a closer look at the pic, there are quite a lot of dampening there on the front tyres compared to rear, which contributes to the degree of tilt in car... thats why low profiles tyres are for... i'm sure we're all car enthusiast, maybe its just how this tweel works... :)
i think the audi really driving quite crazily... imagine the body tilting like that.
cepat botaklah tayar macam nih.. :p
those who say it freaks is low minded , canot accept new things no wonder kutuk proton not dare to change.... but their mind still not change...
i dunnno...jus a thought i wan to share....
thanx for that info anyway...
when that thing approve safety it will cover that tyre all......
now it still test...
do you know the first car was totally naked and the most ugly 1....
but now how's the car look?
This is a testing model. Definately Michelin will do a necessary things to make it nicer and presentable.
The tweel is naked might be because of michelin need to monitor any defect or need to improve sumthin before come out with any production. Just wait n see how's the real or the production model's gonna be.
I think, this gonna be much better compare to normal tyres and if this tyres can be retread, it's definately worth buying. Hopefully, we can feels better performance (beside lowered our car) either for the speeding or cornering.
Cheers..
'I think the wheel is currently ‘naked’ to demonstrate how the inner spokes bend across surfaces.'
And the tyre looks sure pretty thin how long would it last???