Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024

RahulNagaraj · 16th September 2021, 16:05

Michelin introduced its airless tyres, called Uptis back in 2019 in partnership with General Motors. The Michelin Uptis is said to be an alternative to the conventional pneumatic tyres, offering better durability and is less prone to mishaps.

Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024-michelinairlesstyres2.jpg

The company brought prototypes of the airless tyres to the recently concluded IAA in Munich, Germany to have its first public demo. A set of airless tyres were fitted onto a MINI electric hatchback, with Michelin allowing the public to take the car for a small drive and get a first-hand experience of the Uptis.

The Uptis airless tyres are said to be the first step taken by Michelin to meet its aim of using 100% sustainable materials by 2050. The company also unveiled their first tyre made of 46% sustainable materials at the IAA.

Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024-michelinairlesstyres1.jpg

The Michelin airless tyres have been in development for a couple of years now. With the first public demo done, Michelin is now on course to bring the Uptis airless tyre to the market by 2024.

Link to Team-BHP news

callmeneo · 16th September 2021, 16:08

What might be the disadvantages of these tires?
High initial cost?
Harsher ride quality compared to tubeless tires?

RavSam · 16th September 2021, 16:17

Good tech! But technical problems aside, the main problem I see with this is rodents making these their homes and chewing them up from the inside!

Electromotive · 16th September 2021, 16:38

Wouldn't the failure of even one of those spoke-like supports (between rim and tread) decrease the load bearing capacity in that region of the tyre leading to a cascading failure of more spoke-supports and eventually the entire tyre?

Stiffness also seems like an issue, refer front wheel of the Mini in the photo. What about wind drag and the risk of stuff getting caught in the space between the spoke-supports.

batterylow · 16th September 2021, 17:06

Is this not a very old concept, again from Michelin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tweel

sukiwa · 16th September 2021, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by batterylow

Is this not a very old concept, again from Michelin.

Exactly, that's why I searched and posted 2 days back in an old (2005) thread. (Tubeless Tyres? Not Enough! How about Airless -Michelin TweelTyres)

As that post didn't contain any photos and as it wasn't a new thread (trend in last few years), no one commented on it. Sorry for going bit off-topic.

Indraneel Bhat · 17th September 2021, 10:15

These tyres need a sidewall for sure.....
Problems in India -
- Rats
- Dust and mud getting stuck in those gaps

anivy · 23rd September 2021, 12:39

Few more details:

1. Will have sidewalls on the production versions
2. "Uptis" stands for "Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System"
3. Initially meant for performance cars and/or commercial vehicles

Source.

And the demo video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql0Mkr3dwNU

Bibendum90949 · 27th September 2021, 16:49

Let me don the hat of a doubting Thomas. Does it need a different type of wheels for this tyre to fit in?Won't the mud, stones, rubble etc get stuck in those and affect the balance of the tyre? Rodents are a real threat too.

For India, we need to wait and see how it unfolds. Hope this doesn't go the RFT way too(in indian context).

16th September 2021, 16:05	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,675 Thanked: 25,323 Times View My Garage	Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024 Michelin introduced its airless tyres, called Uptis back in 2019 in partnership with General Motors. The Michelin Uptis is said to be an alternative to the conventional pneumatic tyres, offering better durability and is less prone to mishaps. The company brought prototypes of the airless tyres to the recently concluded IAA in Munich, Germany to have its first public demo. A set of airless tyres were fitted onto a MINI electric hatchback, with Michelin allowing the public to take the car for a small drive and get a first-hand experience of the Uptis. The Uptis airless tyres are said to be the first step taken by Michelin to meet its aim of using 100% sustainable materials by 2050. The company also unveiled their first tyre made of 46% sustainable materials at the IAA. The Michelin airless tyres have been in development for a couple of years now. With the first public demo done, Michelin is now on course to bring the Uptis airless tyre to the market by 2024. Link to Team-BHP news
	(16) Thanks

16th September 2021, 16:08	#2
callmeneo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: KA03/KL09/MH12 Posts: 319 Thanked: 543 Times	Re: Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024 What might be the disadvantages of these tires? High initial cost? Harsher ride quality compared to tubeless tires?
	(3) Thanks

16th September 2021, 16:17	#3
RavSam BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Somewhere in MH Posts: 698 Thanked: 2,882 Times	Re: Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024 Good tech! But technical problems aside, the main problem I see with this is rodents making these their homes and chewing them up from the inside!
	(4) Thanks

16th September 2021, 16:38	#4
Electromotive BANNED Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Terra Posts: 207 Thanked: 1,691 Times	Re: Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024 Wouldn't the failure of even one of those spoke-like supports (between rim and tread) decrease the load bearing capacity in that region of the tyre leading to a cascading failure of more spoke-supports and eventually the entire tyre? Stiffness also seems like an issue, refer front wheel of the Mini in the photo. What about wind drag and the risk of stuff getting caught in the space between the spoke-supports. Last edited by Electromotive : 16th September 2021 at 16:48.
	(1) Thanks

16th September 2021, 17:06	#5
batterylow BHPian Join Date: May 2014 Location: TN38/KL11/KL58 Posts: 659 Thanked: 990 Times	Re: Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024 Is this not a very old concept, again from Michelin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tweel
	(1) Thanks

17th September 2021, 10:15	#7
Indraneel Bhat BHPian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 139 Thanked: 390 Times	Re: Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024 These tyres need a sidewall for sure..... Problems in India - - Rats - Dust and mud getting stuck in those gaps
	(1) Thanks

27th September 2021, 16:49	#9
Bibendum90949 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Blr/Kochi/Wynd Posts: 1,487 Thanked: 7,456 Times	Re: Michelin airless tyres 'Uptis' makes it first public demo; to be available from 2024 Let me don the hat of a doubting Thomas. Does it need a different type of wheels for this tyre to fit in?Won't the mud, stones, rubble etc get stuck in those and affect the balance of the tyre? Rodents are a real threat too. For India, we need to wait and see how it unfolds. Hope this doesn't go the RFT way too(in indian context). Last edited by Bibendum90949 : 27th September 2021 at 16:50.
	() Thanks