The Tweel Tire ... Future Of High Tech No Flat TiresBy Robin J. Derry

Scared of a break down while out on the highway? Flat tires, slow leaks, losing driving control may soon become a "thing of the past". Reason? The Michelin tweel may emerge from the technology labs as the newest, greatest on-the-road solution to flat tires.
The Tweel Future Driver Advantages
* Flat Free Driving - Ultimate Safety Benefit. No air is required by the tweel...therefore you won't get a flat tire. Glass, nails, exhaust pipes, sharp rocks can look elsewhere to wreak their havoc...the tweel will be virtually impervious and could become the long-awaited technology alternative to the puncture proof tire or the host of run flat tires designed by Dunlop or Goodyear. How cool is that!
* Potentially 2 To 3 Times Longer Tread Life. The prototype Michelin tweel has popped out of on-track and in-lab testing to reveal the possibility of tread life or running times of up to 3 times current air-filled tires. Why is this possible? For one the Michelin tweel prototypes reveal that up to 23 components typically built into the traditional air-filled tie will no longer be necessary...4 primary design elements bonded together will become the "simpler solution". It's early days "in the lab" so pricing on tweel tires is unknown.
* Improved Ride And Performance. When you want improved cornering capability, the strategy for 20th century traditional tires is "add air". But...as you increase tire air pressure, the ride gets harsher in a "you-can't have-it-both-ways" technical impasse. The tweel resolves this conflict because the load-distributing 3rd layer stress band creates a uniform top-to-bottom as well as lateral side-to-side structure for refined load absorption. Result? You'll be able to increase lateral stiffness (think cornering ability) by over 5 times when compared to traditional tires, yet you'll give up nothing in terms of ride comfort. You'll get improved ride and handling.
* Avoiding Expensive Air Pressure Monitors And Gauges. Remove the air from your tire and you immediately remove expensive air pressure monitoring system devices including tire pressure monitors attached to the tire, sensor and data-send devices, dash board instruments for read outs, along with microprocessors in the car's computer system
Technology Revealed - Is The Michelin Tweel Actually A Run Flat Tire? No. What's emerging from the engineering technology lab is a 21st century integrated tire-wheel, the tweel, which relies on an ultimately simpler blending of structural materials...an outer rubber-like tread not so different from the appearance of a tradition tire tread...a structure-enhancing shear band wraps the engineered polyurethane spoke system in order to better distribute load during all driving conditions...and the core hub assembly which provides a fixed point of contact with your auto's axle.
Who Will Get The Tweel Technology First? Unless you're driving an armaments vehicle across Iraq, or you plan to be deployed in a military training ops center out of the war zone action theater, then you'll have to wait a few years before you'll see a tweel tire sported by passenger car or trucks. Military will have "first pick" rights, and will likely provide you with the sort of performance feedback that will result in an improved tweel for your vehicles.
Potential Tweel Design Shortcomings. All that's air-free may not necessarily please everyone. Prototype track experience shows that the Michelin tweel throws off a unique cacophony of road noise...perhaps no worse than what you may hear now, but rolling resistance and road noise do not magically "go away" . Rough roads...think rocks or washer board pitted dirt surfaces...look as though they'll throw off considerable vibration, transmitting a raw potentially jarring energy wave through your car. Yet, the tweel appears to easily handle bigger holes and road depressions without any aggravation. Stay relaxed, as the jury is out on how rough road vibrations get dampened by future generations of the tweel.
Bottom Line. Smart drivers will continue to drive cautiously, monitoring air pressure and making seasonal-weather adjustments until "break through" technologies like the putative Michelin tweel prove themselves reliable, available and at affordable costs.
Learn More About Tires, Wheels And Automotive Performance Accessories. Please go to the following links for additional details on tires and wheels for your family’s driving needs.
Tires: http://www.wise4living.com/autotire/
Wheels: http://www.wise4living.com/autowheel/
Author Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty knowledge site that gives insights and solutions into auto tire and wheels technology trends, medical spas, home and gardening projects such as decks and deer fencing, technology trends, unique gift designs, HDTV and home entertainment systems, technology gifts, tips for families committed to youth summer camps, body health, household, sport, travel, footwear, education, spendthrift trusts and family law legal needs, and much more.