U.S. Military begins rolling on airless tires

Feuer Frei! · 09-24-13, 07:56 AM

Yea yea, it's Fox news, normally Fox news is a no-go zone for me but:

Quote:

Air compressor manufactures take note.
Polaris has begun production of a non-pneumatic tire for all terrain vehicles.
The company has begun deliveries of its MV850 ATV fitted with the flat-proof TerrainArmor tires to the U.S. Special Operations Forces, and plans to introduce a retail version soon.

SOURCE

the_tyrant · 09-24-13, 08:32 AM

How would these drive? I find myself preferring normal tires over run flat ones, I must assume that these are even less comfortable than run flat ones.

ETR3(SS) · 09-24-13, 08:48 AM

The idea is a couple of years old and was pioneered by a company in Wisconsin. Saw them demonstrate it on a Humvee.

Edit: Here's the link to the company website http://www.resilienttech.com/product...pneumatic-tire

Herr-Berbunch · 09-24-13, 08:54 AM

I don't think anyone who rides a quad expects comfort!

VipertheSniper · 09-24-13, 09:06 AM

I wonder how long the linkage between rim and the rubber will be able to take the alignment forces.

As it is airless, how will they handle different terrain? When you drive on sand you want lower pressure, on the other hand lower pressure means higher fuel consumption, so when you don't need the lower pressure, because your driving on roads, you'd fill up the air again.

On the other hand I guess the linkage might provide some additional traction in soft sand, so you wouldn't have to make it too soft.

Jimbuna · 09-24-13, 09:16 AM

Looks like something out of a Meccano set

TLAM Strike · 09-24-13, 09:27 AM

70 Years too late. The Germans were way ahead of us.

eddie · 09-24-13, 11:41 AM

NASA used wheels like that or similar on the Lunar Rovers, way back when during Project Apollo.

Stealhead · 09-24-13, 02:15 PM

We had certain machinery in the USAF that had tires filled with some sort of gel in place of air (gas).

Jimbuna · 09-24-13, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

70 Years too late. The Germans were way ahead of us.

Maybe but the air pump was pretty useless as a weapon

Stealhead · 09-24-13, 02:25 PM

Why does that bike have an air pump when it has air less spring wheels?

Maybe it is a blow gun with poison darts.

vienna · 09-24-13, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Maybe but the air pump was pretty useless as a weapon

When air pumps are outlawed, only bicyclists will have air pumps...

<O>

Wolferz · 09-24-13, 03:56 PM

So much for those auto inflate/deflate systems we had on our five ton dumps.

Those should work well on the Hummers.

Platapus · 09-24-13, 05:59 PM

How long would those open spokes last in a jungle/heavy brush environment?

Stealhead · 09-24-13, 06:03 PM

I would imagine that some amount of engineering went into then design.Not say that it is perfect nothing ever is but I could see the design having fairly good durability.

The design would also eliminate the greatest weakness of a tire filled with air punctures/ruptures.

09-24-13, 08:32 AM	#2
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	How would these drive? I find myself preferring normal tires over run flat ones, I must assume that these are even less comfortable than run flat ones. __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us

09-24-13, 08:48 AM	#3
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	The idea is a couple of years old and was pioneered by a company in Wisconsin. Saw them demonstrate it on a Humvee. Edit: Here's the link to the company website http://www.resilienttech.com/product...pneumatic-tire __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

09-24-13, 08:54 AM	#4
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	I don't think anyone who rides a quad expects comfort! __________________

09-24-13, 09:16 AM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Looks like something out of a Meccano set __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-24-13, 09:27 AM	#7
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	70 Years too late. The Germans were way ahead of us. __________________

09-24-13, 09:06 AM	#5
VipertheSniper Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Austria Posts: 1,070 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I wonder how long the linkage between rim and the rubber will be able to take the alignment forces. As it is airless, how will they handle different terrain? When you drive on sand you want lower pressure, on the other hand lower pressure means higher fuel consumption, so when you don't need the lower pressure, because your driving on roads, you'd fill up the air again. On the other hand I guess the linkage might provide some additional traction in soft sand, so you wouldn't have to make it too soft.

09-24-13, 11:41 AM	#8
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	NASA used wheels like that or similar on the Lunar Rovers, way back when during Project Apollo. __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

09-24-13, 02:15 PM	#9
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	We had certain machinery in the USAF that had tires filled with some sort of gel in place of air (gas).

09-24-13, 02:25 PM	#11
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Why does that bike have an air pump when it has air less spring wheels? Maybe it is a blow gun with poison darts.

09-24-13, 03:56 PM	#13
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	So much for those auto inflate/deflate systems we had on our five ton dumps. Those should work well on the Hummers. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

09-24-13, 05:59 PM	#14
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	How long would those open spokes last in a jungle/heavy brush environment? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

09-24-13, 06:03 PM	#15
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I would imagine that some amount of engineering went into then design.Not say that it is perfect nothing ever is but I could see the design having fairly good durability. The design would also eliminate the greatest weakness of a tire filled with air punctures/ruptures.