Airless Tires Promise Puncture-Proof Motoring

DIY

Wheels and Tires

Motorcycles & ATVs

ATVs and UTVs

Daniel Gray

September 30, 2021

Daniel Gray

September 30, 2021

Airless tires have been the next big thing—for many decades. The initial designs date back to the 1930s when inventor James V. Martin received several patents. But for all its fanfare, the technology never took off for passenger vehicles. However, that could soon change.

The benefits of airless tires include:

Puncture-proof design
No issues regarding inflation and tire pressure
Improved road safety (by avoiding blowouts and tire changes on the road)
Decreased labor and disposal costs
Reduced environmental impact

Airless Tires Last Longer

The longer life promised by airless tires has many benefits. First, both under-inflation and over-inflation cause premature tire wear. But with airless tires, inflation and blowout worries are gone.

There are also considerable potential economic and environmental benefits. Yes, the purchase price of an airless tire is higher than conventional tires. But the cost of replacing and disposing of traditional tires adds up over time.

It’s hard to put a number on the adverse impacts of tires filling up landfills. Every year, roughly 200 million tires are scrapped prematurely across the globe.

Airless tires for cars aren't far off. The biggest question is which vehicle classes will get them first—and if they can truly match the handling capabilities of traditional tires.

Michelin Airless Tires Are Here, For Smaller Vehicles

A tiny 6-inch Michelin airless tire for sale on eBay.

Here’s the bad news: airless tires for passenger vehicles are still unavailable. But a glimpse into the future of airless, puncture-free tires is available for owners of UTVs and some lawn-care vehicles.

Michelin currently offers the Tweel airless tire—and it’s available on eBay - opens in new window or tab.. The name comes from an obvious combo of words. It’s a tire and a wheel—a Tweel.

Michelin North America engineers Steve Cron and Tim Rhyne pioneered the brand’s airless tire technology - opens in new window or tab. more than two decades ago. The technology uses a heavy-gauge steel hub with flexible polyurethane spokes connected to a semi-rigid sheer beam. The spokes absorb impact and carry the load.

While the Tweel debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it took a while before Michelin introduced a commercial product. So it made more sense to start with low-speed products.

The Michelin X Tweel SSL skid-steer airless radial tire rolled out in 2012. Two years later, Michelin opened a dedicated plant to produce the Tweel in Piedmont, South Carolina.

Michelin soon after formed a partnership with John Deere to use the Michelin X Tweel Turf fitment on its ZTRAK 900 zero-turn mower.

The ATVs and UTVs Using the Tweel

While you can’t buy airless tires for a Jeep Wrangler yet, you can buy Michelin airless tires for your ATV or side-by-side UTV.

Michelin’s X Tweel UTV airless radial tires use full-width poly-resin spokes to smooth out the ride and deliver lateral stiffness on sloping terrain. This video shows Michelin X Tweel airless tires tackling an array of logs, rocks, sand, mud, water crossing, hills, and side slopes.

Michelin offers five X Tweel ATV and UTV sizes, based on manufacturers:

Can AM - opens in new window or tab. / Kawasaki UTVs - opens in new window or tab. - 26x9N14 +48 mm (5+2) - 4x137 mm
Honda ATVs - opens in new window or tab. - 26x9N14 +45 mm (5+2) - 4x110 mm
Honda, Kubota and Yamaha UTVs - opens in new window or tab. - 26x9N14 +52 mm (6+1) - 4x110 mm
John Deere Gator UTVs - opens in new window or tab. - 26x9N14 +25 mm (5+2) - 5x4.5”
Polaris UTVs - opens in new window or tab. - 26x9N14 +30 mm (5+2) - 4x156 mm

Michelin also markets Tweel airless tires for golf carts and small utility vehicles.

The Big Question: When?

GM will begin offering Uptis airless tire as an option on certain models "as early as 2024."

So then, how long will it be before you can slap a set of airless tires on your current commuter vehicle? Michelin and General Motors are working on that.

The two companies are jointly testing the next generation of airless tires. It’s called the Michelin Uptis—which is short for “Unique Puncture-proof Tire System.” Tire testing is a painstaking process, as the engineers run prototype designs through every possible scenario. While Michelin's experience with the off-road Tweel gives them a head start, high-speed travel on the open road is a different animal. It wouldn't be surprising to see this technology debut as an off-road focused tire in the B.F.Goodrich KO line - opens in new window or tab..

The Uptis could be offered commercially as early as 2024, nearly a century after its inventors introduced the concept. It will provide a compelling alternative to run-flat and conventional tires, with regard to safety. But other concerns remain. Can Michelin's Uptis match or exceed existing benchmarks when it comes to to ride, handling, road noise, and efficiency? Will consumers accept the airless tire's unconventional appearance? Only time will tell.

About the author

Daniel Gray

Daniel Gray is a best-selling tech author, trail-blazing blogger, recovering road-test editor, OG automotive YouTuber, and semi-retired delivery driver. His latest project, “The Last Mile Is the Front Line,” explores the over-hyped promises and unseen challenges of grocery delivery, where sustainability is paramount.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.