Innovative wheel concept designed by Brian Russell comes with airless tires that make cars safer and help reduce fuel consumption.
Energy Return Wheel is made out of carbon fiber and kevlar components that decrease the weight and increase the overall strength.
Also check out: Innovative Airless Tires by Michelin
Fred
They look cool, and it’s a great concepts, but I can’t help but think they’d have issues around here in a couple months when there’s a foot of snow to fill up that gap.
Nov 17th, 2010
panubo
@ fred
i don’t think that should be a problem, if you clean the wheel once in a while or something.
great idea, if its safe and better, it should be installed everywhere.
Nov 17th, 2010
ed
Similar to the Michelin Tweel. Been waiting for that to hit the market for 10+ years…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tweel
Nov 17th, 2010
forumlogic
Desire, love, want, need ….
Nov 17th, 2010
Juliana
it could be expensive and could have some issues after alot of wear but its a very good idea and it will help resolve the problem of fossil fuels running out
Nov 17th, 2010
Connor
If you look at the second video, the ERW tire has walls so the snow or other debris wont be an issue.
Nov 17th, 2010
Darrell
I love it!
And yeah. Quite similar to the “tweel.” Wonder which one actually works better..
Nov 17th, 2010
René
Before the Michelin tweel, there was a similar tire invented by a Mr. Martin of Jersey City, NY. That was in 1938 !
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/12/13/rubber-spokes-give-bounce-to-airless-safety-tires/
Nov 17th, 2010
Fred
@panubo
You’ve never seen a Wisconsin winter I take it. You’d have to stop every three blocks to clean the snow out.
Nov 17th, 2010
pyatki
its cool
Nov 19th, 2010
Kyle
I’d be interested to know the actual amount of gas these things save
Nov 19th, 2010
ed
@René
Very cool – Cheers for the link. :)
Nov 23rd, 2010
corey
fred they would probably have something to fill the gap so snow wouldn’t get in there and damage the tire
Nov 29th, 2010
Arabian
small start for an amazing idea :)
Dec 22nd, 2010
Phryk
Noise… this is not the 1st atempt at airless tires and the problem was always the large amount of noise they generate…
Dec 22nd, 2010
Gandi
Is there enough kevlar to be massed produced?
Oct 31st, 2011
Anthony Sanchez
What about the people in NASCAR or track how is tht going to effect them dnt they need all the rubber they can get
Nov 18th, 2013