One Year Later, Airless Tires Still Aren’t On The Road
Airless tires aren't anything new. In fact, they've been around for a very long time in one way or another. While they have been proven workhorses in the industrial category, nobody has been able to crack the passenger tire market with these. I think Bridgestone even started teasing this tech back in the late 2000's, but nothing has come of it yet... and with competitors now edging in, the last set of tires you'll likely ever buy might be closer than you think.
All the same, given the amount of detail we can see here, they might not live up to the hype. These tires, like all tires, are made up of rubber. Rubber is a great substance, but it also have a lifespan. Just look at some of the cheaper tires on the current market. Sure, they were a great deal, but the cheaper they are, the sooner they'll start to crack and inevitably fail in as little as four years. More expensive tires tend to last longer. You really do get what you pay for. And the heavy hitters like Michelin are starting to look at tech like this like a fat kid looks at cupcakes. Whether or not these actually hit the market is still up in the air. Like I said, other manufacturers have been teasing it for over a decade... but if they do, it might be something to save up for.
UPDATE: Where are the airless tires?
Well, that's not an easy question to answer. Michelin (and probably other manufacturers) are currently making these tires, but they're not for sale to the public yet. Why? Because GM got dibs on them first. These tires will appear first on GM vehicles in 2024... (not sure if that's 2024 year model, or physical year 2024 - AKA - 2025 year model) The future is coming, I suppose they just want to make a big splash. On the plus side of things, prices are rumored to be just slightly higher than what you're already buying. On average, a set of four airless tires should run about $160-$200 more than what you already drive on, with prices obviously shrinking as they gain a market for them. It's a good thing.