As strange as it sounds, French rubber manufacturer Michelin may well have reinvented the wheel, and it could change the way we drive.
The tyre company showcased a potential future for mobility, an integrated tyre and wheel combination missing one ingredient that is usually critical for traditional tyre performance: air.
The company unveiled the first real-world fitments for its revolutionary “Tweel” – which operates entirely without air.
Invented by Dean Kamen, the iBOT mobility device has the ability to climb stairs and navigate uneven terrain, offering mobility freedom impossible with traditional wheelchairs.
For Michelin, Tweel is a long-term vision that represents the next step in a long path of industry-changing innovations. Fifty years ago, Michelin invented the radial tyre and there is no question that radial tyre technology will continue as the standard for a long time to come.
Michelin continues to advance the performance of the radial tyre in areas such as rolling resistance, wear life and grip. In the short-term, the lessons learned from Tweel research are being applied to improve those conventional tyre performances.
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