Are airless tyres legal?

[AustinRacing]

A civic pulled up next to me today. I wonder whether their legal?  I hear mixed feedback about them. I wouldn’t use them. Would you?

[Gottfrid]

In Thailand everything is legal, or just to pay yourself away from.

Yes, why not? Do you see anything wrong with then?

[KhunBENQ]

Michelin Uptis?

Surprised that they are (already) on the road here?

Last I have seen was from engineering and test of these.

Maybe a test ride/vehicle?

 

[richard_smith237]

I wouldn’t feel comfortable going round gentle expressway bend at 120kmh with them. 

 

Regarding legality....  its Thailand. A significant proportion of vehicles on the roads in Thailand are not road legal.... from polluting busses, rickety trucks and beaten up old pickups, to samlors.... to motorcycle-street-carts.... 

[KhunBENQ]

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

I wouldn’t feel comfortable going round gentle expressway bend at 120kmh with them. 

Hope Michelin knows their business.

Just searched a bit and they are announced for 2024 in Europe.

So really surprising to see these in Thailand.

I again bet for a test drive/vehicle.

[SAFETY FIRST]

11 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Thailand everything is legal,

Until the cops pull you up at a checkpoint. 

 

I get nabbed for a non-original (not noisy) exhaust on my 10 year old scooter. 

The original fell off (old) and needed replacing. 

 

Edited April 12, 2022 by SAFETY FIRST

[Gottfrid]

8 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Until the cops pull you up at a checkpoint. 

 

I get nabbed for a non-original (not noisy) exhaust on my 10 year old scooter. 

The original fell off (old) and needed replacing. 

 

Yep, they will always find something to fine you for.

[herfiehandbag]

11 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Hope Michelin knows their business.

Just searched a bit and they are announced for 2024 in Europe.

So really surprising to see these in Thailand.

I again bet for a test drive/vehicle.

Quite possibly a "local made copy"?

[sead]

Can see the damage done if  sharp object enters into those fins

[wombat]

it'd be a flat argument if they weren't 

[NotYourBusiness]

1 hour ago, sead said:

Can see the damage done if  sharp object enters into those fins

As opposed to the damage done when a sharp object enters an inflated tire? 

[wombat]

34 minutes ago, NotYourBusiness said:

As opposed to the damage done when a sharp object enters an inflated tire? 

having driven on dirt roads and bush tracks for most of my adult life i would be concerned with rocks entering inbetween the baffle things, not clearing and destroying the tyre from the inside out every time the wheel went round and did not conform like its supposed to

[Eaglekott]

Aren't those supposed to be spares that you use if your normal tires goes flat? And the good thing with them is that you never has to check if your spare still has air.

 

 

[rwill]

I don't like them.  I can't figure out how much air pressure to put in them....

[Boomer6969]

Airless or Nitrogenless? Latest I've heard is that Thailand will only allow the latter.

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, Boomer6969 said:

Airless or Nitrogenless? Latest I've heard is that Thailand will only allow the latter.

So only pure oxygen then, how do they remove the 78% nitrogen content from the air ?

Edited April 12, 2022 by Ralf001

[salsajapan]

they are tested by Michelin Thailand, this is why you have seen it,

 

[Boomer6969]

8 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

So only pure oxygen then, how do they remove the 78% nitrogen content from the air ?

I inflate with nitrogen. free service from Tyreplus, where I bought my Michelin. But please don't take my former post too seriously.

[RafPinto]

Could drive up and down Sukhumvit. They could probably clean the air a bit.

[RafPinto]

14 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Hope Michelin knows their business.

Just searched a bit and they are announced for 2024 in Europe.

So really surprising to see these in Thailand.

I again bet for a test drive/vehicle.

Trying them first in the "country of Hubs of everything".

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

14 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Hope Michelin knows their business.

Just searched a bit and they are announced for 2024 in Europe.

So really surprising to see these in Thailand.

I again bet for a test drive/vehicle.

Quite possibly a "local made copy"?

Since the majority of Thailand's road rubber is locally manufactured, maybe Michelin are making them under license in a Thai factory and someone left the back door open?

[Burma Bill]

16 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

So really surprising to see these in Thailand.

Chinese copies?????

[Lacessit]

32 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Chinese copies?????

Ah, this week's entry for the tautology competition.

[Eaglekott]

I wonder how heavy they are compared to normal tires filled with air. I know people complain that run-flat tires is to heavy because of the reinforced tire-sides.

[Mavideol]

whowww no more flats.... that saves a lot of money

[kuzie57]

They look like run-flats with the side walls cut out.

 

[sandyf]

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wouldn’t feel comfortable going round gentle expressway bend at 120kmh with them. 

Are we to take it you would be quite comfortable driving like that on a space saver tyre?

Article from 2008.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/31947/are-space-savers-safe

 

Every tyre has a spec.

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-cant-buy-airless-tires-for-cars-2022-2

[Lokie]

Legal or not they look absolute Pants, awful, am no tyre engineer but is no way they will give a better all round safer, comfortable ride than a traditional rubber tyre which can be adjusted for pressures to suit and range of Applications/Fitment/Grip

 

[sead]

7 hours ago, NotYourBusiness said:

As opposed to the damage done when a sharp object enters an inflated tire? 

Now you're just silly. These finns are moving and expanding. If an object were to come inside when it's expanded then guess the damage when it's inside and grinding those finns. 

[DavisH]

And driving in flooded roads at low speeds will create lots of drag. Possibly at high speeds water will not enter the tire. But I don;t like the idea of water getting into them at any speed. This would surely affect stablility, handling and fuel economy.