This Company is Reinventing the Wheel and Ditching the Rubber Tire

[multigraincracker]

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/company-reinventing-wheel-ditching-rubber-131117780.html

The so-called Air Suspension Wheel (ASW) is the brainchild of serial inventor and structural dynamic engineer Dr. Zoltan Kemeny. The patented ASW is a mechanical wheel constructed mostly of steel with in-wheel pneumatic suspension through cylinders. It is both environmentally friendly as well as cost-efficient. The ASW is engineered to have the same lifespan as the vehicle it is mounted on. After that, unlike rubber tires, it can be reconditioned or can be completely recycled.
GACW is currently focused on the $30 billion per year OTR mining market. Rubber OTR mining tires are expensive: for example, a typical 13,000-pound tire can cost up to $75,000 for a useful lifetime of only 6 to 9 months. “That is a large expense for a product that does not last,” according to the company. On the other hand, the ASW lasts as long as the vehicle itself and therefore saves up to 60% in costs.

Another key feature of the ASW is the greatly reduced Rolling Resistance. This will make combustion engines more efficient and reduce emission gases. For electrical cars, like Tesla, this would mean that the driving range can be extended by up to 30% on the same battery, which is significant.

[PoliticAverse]

1. I learned that "pollutive" is a word. n/t

[UpInArms]

2. Very cool

Tires are so hard on the environment …

Through production, lifespan and disposal …

Am glad there are people working on alternatives.

[Sherman A1]

3. Very interesting

Looks like a positive for all involved.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Iain Banks described something somewhat like this in Use of Weapons (IIRC) ...

of course, his were in the far future, and the design was perfected for ultrahigh speeds.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. There's a lot of difference between a tyre on a big, slow off-road truck, and a fast road vehicle

The usefulness of rubber tyres on road vehicles is for their cornering and braking characteristics, not suspension. "In-wheel pneumatic suspension through cylinders" also sounds as if it gives up any advantage of decreased rolling resistance. This may work in the situations where not using rubber is already an option (eg tracked vehicles), but will have the same limitations.

[PoliticAverse]

7. And one that's going over dirt mining roads vs one on asphalt or concrete.

If the road is paved you want the road to wear out the tire not the other way around.

[3Hotdogs]

11. Fukkin Buzzkill

[MineralMan]

6. I predict high road noise from those wheels. One of the benefits

of rubber tires is a quieter ride.

[bullwinkle428]

8. As someone who has worked in the tire industry for decades, I also wonder how

a steel wheel would have anywhere near the traction capabilities of an elastomeric material like rubber.

Trust me - there are a number of new technologies in the works that will revolutionize the tire industry as we know it. We're in the process of sorting out production costs, production methodology, sustainability, etc., but most people will see this newer stuff in their lifetimes.

[PoliticAverse]

9. Anything with polyurethane? n/t

[MineralMan]

10. That's another factor, for sure. Rubber conforms to small irregularities

in the road surface, improving traction by increasing the total contact area.

I can see those steel wheels with built-in suspension features for OTR vehicles, but not so much for regular roadways.

[BootinUp]

14. Let me guess

Some kind of new reinforcing fiber in the rubber?

Or thermoplastic instead of thermoset rubber.

[MoonlitKnight]

19. Maybe just add a rubber tread

So then you get the benefits of both while significantly reducing the amount of waste.

[3Hotdogs]

13. How much for just one of them... a donut in the trunk?

[reACTIONary]

29. They are replacements for tires that cost $75,000 each and...

... last 6 to 9 months. On large off the road mining equipment. So they probably cost a lot, lot more. But since they last for the life of the equipment, instead of 6 to 9 months, they are supposed to be a big money saver.

[lastlib]

15. How would they perform in ice and snow?

[JohnnyRingo]

16. I've been hearing about these since I was in high school in the '60s.

Many ideas have arisen and many more prototypes have been developed, but none of them offer the smooth ride and long life of a rubber (plastic polymer) tread.

This newest innovation may be useful on heavy equipment or farm vehicles, but it's just as unlikely to provide the magic carpet ride we expect from our SUVs. and Teslas.

[Politicub]

17. A steel tire. LOL

This story is a press release dressed up as news.

And just like love, you can rub it all over your body and cook with it, too.

[bucolic_frolic]

18. Steel tank treads grind pavement to rubble in no time

This sounds like an improvement over those, but also seems to be a permanent spring-loaded compacting operation. Won't that conformity and weight make for old-time ruts?

[relayerbob]

24. As someone pointed out below

There would be flat poly treads for road use. Also they make the tires wider quite easily, reducing ground pressure. While perhaps not as recyclable as pure steel, it would be a massive improvement.

[reACTIONary]

27. All of you naysayers please note....

... These are for off road mining equipement, not on the road, high speed automobile tires. Here is a diagram:

[alfredo]

20. Imagine 20 steel wheeled F1 cars zipping around Spa at 200mph.

[KS Toronado]

21. From their website, not the Yahoo press release......

"Customized polyurethane or steel tread configurations are bolted to the outer drum in segments."

So yes, where the "rubber" meets the road, this part still wears out & will need replaced as necessary.

[relayerbob]

22. Fantastic! Science!

[panader0]

23. These would not be for regular cars, just things like mining trucks, etc.

There's no way that these could be used on our highways.

[Wednesdays]

25. 13,000 pound tire?

[BidenRocks]

26. First, what is OTR?

Then, will this have a speed rating of Z? Safe at 145 mph?
Finally the high speed cornering interaction with a DSC, stability control system.

[reACTIONary]

28. OTR is Off The Road...

... These tires are for off road heavy machinery. For mining operations. These are not auto tires or wheels.