The idea of ​​airless tires is not new, but now something concrete is happening in this future area: The tire manufacturer Michelin has announced that by the end of 2023 50 DHL delivery vehicles in Singapore will be equipped with Michelin Uptis (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) airless tires to equip.

The first vans in the pilot program have been on the road with the tires since January 10th.

Instead of air, the tires have fiberglass-reinforced plastic spokes that are supposed to absorb the weight of the car. According to Michelin, Uptis is a puncture-proof wheel and tire combination designed for cars and vans.

According to the manufacturer, the technology should have several positive effects: no unnecessary downtimes, fewer tires to be disposed of and less tire-related maintenance effort for the fleet.

In a press release , Bruno De Feraudy from Michelin speaks of a "groundbreaking tire innovation" that was developed on the basis of around 50 patents relating to tire structure and high-tech materials. Airless technology is a central part of the Michelin vision. In 2050, the company aims to have a fully sustainable tire on the

 

 

Internal studies have led Michelin to the conclusion that the Uptis technology can save up to 200 million tires or two million tons of material worldwide every year. Converted, that would be equivalent to saving around 200 Eiffel Towers.

Numerous tire manufacturers - such as Goodyear and Bridgestone - have been working on airless tires for a long time, and they repeatedly present studies of such wheels. In 2019, Michelin had announced that it would bring the Uptis airless tire, which was developed together with General Motors, to the first passenger car models in 2024.

According to the automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport , it is fitted like a conventional wheel and does not require an air pressure check, making it virtually maintenance-free. The experience of Singapore will be monitored with particular care in this regard.