Car Insurance

Every once in a while a product comes along that catches your
eye. The new Michelin Tweel is just such a product. Mounted on an
Audi A4, demonstrating its flexibility, is what Michelin North
America Inc. has dubbed the Tweel. It is a tire and wheel combo
that comes as an assembly, requires no air (the flexibility comes
from the spokes) and is retreadable. Can you imagine never having
a flat again?

The Tweel uses a network of elastomeric polyurethane spokes to
control the ride characteristics. These ride characteristics can
be set independently of each other, for instance, vertical
stiffness-which primarily affects ride comfort-and lateral
stiffness-which affects handling and cornering-can both be
optimized, pushing the comfort level and the performance envelope
at the same time. This is something today’s pneumatic tire just
cant do.

The possibilities of the Tweel seem endless. For instance, since
the Tweel requires no air, holes or channels could be designed in
the tread that could channel water literally through the tread,
thus improving aquaplaning resistance considerably. In the looks
department, the Tweel is extremely low profile. At speed, the
spokes seem to disappear, giving the appearance the vehicle is
floating on air, while also revealing the brakes and associated
suspension hardware. If that werent enough, to add a little
“Bling Bling” the spokes of the Tweel could be chromed or painted
to any desired color for that ultra custom look.

As for maintenance, there is very little. There is no air to check,
no more mounting and balancing, and no more flats.

Now before you run out to get yourself a set, you must understand
that Michelin says they are ten years away from having the Tweel
in mass production. That said, as you can see they already have a
fitment available to at least bolt on an Audi, and with the
benefits being so great, can it really be that far off?