You know the importance of inflating your tires correctly and ensuring that they are the right size for your car. What if you were told that you could have airless tires? Some see airless tires as the promise of a future where we are no longer worrying about flat tires. But with any new technology, making the switch can really involve some advantages and disadvantages of which you should be aware.
Airless tires , also called non-pneumatic tires (NPT), or flat-free tires, are in the experimental phase right now. They’ve been developing these honeycombed tires for nearly a decade. Before airless tires ever end up on the regular car we most likely will see them in industrial vehicles first. In this article we talk about the pros and the cons of airless tires.
Airless Tires: Pros
Airless Tires Never Pop
If you have ever changed a tire at the side of a busy highway, you know how difficult of an experience it can be. One minute you’re driving through a neighborhood where some roofers have carelessly dropped some nails and the next minute you’re cursing as cars are zipping past you while you try to change a tire.
Having airless tires would eliminate this problem once and for all. Nobody would relish the idea of having metal hardware puncture in the tread, it also means you never have to worry about any consequences should you ignore it. Flat tires and blow outs on the road are some of the biggest causes of serious accidents. In fact, it can cause nearly 80,000 crashes per year.
Better Traction While Cornering and at Low Speeds
Airless tires are heavier than the regular tires. They have a much more uniform tread surface. Both of these factors improve the traction and grip they have on the road, especially during towns and at low speeds.
Airless Tires Get Excellent Fuel Efficiency
Because these tires have a stiffer structure, they are less prone to deformation while rolling. There is no deformity, which means that they have more of a fuel efficiency. Around 2 to 7% of energy for common normal cars is spent overcoming tire deformation, and airless tires would automatically provide better benefits in terms of fuel efficiency.
Lower Costs and Less Vehicle Down-Time
Tire failure for larger industrial vehicles can cause massive losses to productivity and efficiency in a business. One mishap can lead to a vehicle being put out of commission for weeks. Constant tire replacement, especially on large semi- trucks, also adds up in terms of cost. The thing with airless is that they are much less likely to have a complete failure. Which means they are replaced less frequently and you will save on replacement costs.
The Cons
The Cost
The biggest trade off for shopping for these tires in the future is he cost. These specialized tires haven’t made it to the market yet for a range of reasons. The biggest one is that they’re going to cost far more than the average consumer would be willing to pay. The cost of living is rising enough as it is without having to pay additional money for your vehicle.
Less Comfortable Ride
These tires are really stiff. They transmit more irregularities on the road into the suspension. This then sends vibrations to vehicle occupants. Bumpy roads can be a complete nightmare with airless tires. Additionally these tires are not very quiet. At high-speeds, you’ll notice this even more. Airless tires need to work better hand in hand with vehicle suspension systems in the future.
No Adjustability
If you have intense driving needs, whether off-road or an industrial situation, you’re going to know the benefits that are provided by the question of air in your tires. When you let out some of the tire pressure you can create a much softer ride and better traction.
Tire pressure is so important for those who also like to track sports cars, and subtle tweaks and pressure can translate to performance advantages. Airless tires like this ability as there’s no adjustability. This makes them less versatile in certain situations and the average person may not miss this feature but anybody who loves to drive or goes off road will.
The Results
Airless tires are still a few years away but they are definitely worth some consideration. Overall, there are huge benefits for heavy commuters and those in certain industries. There are still things to be worked out when it comes to airless tires but they are on their way!