At the 2017 Movin' On conference in Montreal, Michelin has unveiled Vision, it's newest concept airless tire. Vision is an airless tire-and-wheel in one, made from from organic, bio-sourced materials that are both recyclable and biodegradable. Its tread is rechargeable via 3D printing, which allows it to be altered quickly for various seasons or use cases. It's also connected, equipped with sensors that provide real-time information about its condition.
Michelin has been dabbling in the Airless Tire concept for a while now, currently offering the Tweel for light machinery, lawn tractors, and golf carts. The Vision concept is pretty cool idea, albeit a bit ugly. A fairly neat aspect shown in a video posted by Michelin is a "Print & Go" station that can change the style of your tires tread on the road depending on your destination, climate, and driving style. While longevity, cost, and ride comfort are all important questions that remain to be answered, what we really need to know is do they come in orange?
Michelin's Vision tire is constructed using 3D printing technology. This enables an airless interior architecture that mimics alveolar structures (such as the air sacs of the lungs) that is solid in the center and more flexible on the outside, resulting in a tire that is immune to blowouts or going flat.
Michelin has been dabbling in the Airless Tire concept for a while now, currently offering the Tweel for light machinery, lawn tractors, and golf carts. The Vision concept is pretty cool idea, albeit a bit ugly. A fairly neat aspect shown in a video posted by Michelin is a "Print & Go" station that can change the style of your tires tread on the road depending on your destination, climate, and driving style. While longevity, cost, and ride comfort are all important questions that remain to be answered, what we really need to know is do they come in orange?
Michelin's Vision tire is constructed using 3D printing technology. This enables an airless interior architecture that mimics alveolar structures (such as the air sacs of the lungs) that is solid in the center and more flexible on the outside, resulting in a tire that is immune to blowouts or going flat.