MICHELIN

Company already tests airless tires on utility vehicles in France

Michelin will test its Uptis airless tires under real-world conditions, installing them in 40 vans from the French postal service La Poste.

The pilot project started this month and initially airless tires were installed on 3 vans that will deliver letters and parcels like any other van with regular tires.

The data collected during the first phase will be analyzed and used to make improvements if necessary, and by 2024 will be installed in the remaining 37 vans that will make deliveries in the cities of Lesquin, Valenciennes and Douai.

Michelin hopes its airless tires will help La Poste reduce maintenance-related downtime for its vans.

These tires have an aluminum center section, with the spokes supporting the tread made from a combination of rubber and fiberglass-reinforced resin.

The installation of airless tires offers a small weight saving compared to conventional tires. Although the Uptis wheel/tyre combo weighs about the same as a conventional equivalent, Michelin says that because the Uptis tire is puncture-resistant, no tire pressure monitoring sensors, spares or repair kit are needed. 

By extension, the French company reports that they improve consumption and increase the range of cars that use them.

from: Kyriakos Pilidis