Bridgestone Goes Airless with Resin-based Bicycle Tires
It looks like Bridgestone is following suit with Nexo in creating airless bicycle tires that won’t go flat even when punctured. Unlike conventional tires with an inner tube filled with air to maintain rigidity, Bridgestone’s Air-Free Concept wheels feature thermoplastic resin spokes to maintain shape and support the rider.
These stretch around the inner rim and are made completely from recycled materials, giving love back to Mother Earth. The concept was centered around the idea of rider safety by removing the need to pull-off on a road shoulder to change a flat as well as to reduce CO2 emissions from portable air pumps.
While Bridgestone doesn’t state how the tires are manufactured, my guess is that they use a process much like Nexo employed using resin pellets (recycled of course), which are heated and injection molded into the desired shape. Not only is the process faster than producing a conventional tire (roughly 30-minutes), it’s more cost effective with the added benefit of being more eco-friendly.
Bridgestone came up with the Air-Free Concept back in 2011 during their ‘post-modern’ artwork phase and have since looked at revising and adapting their air-free endeavor to “enable proposals of next generation bicycles which have never been seen before.” A bold claim for sure but the company states that their Air-Free Concept tires will be available in 2019, just in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
It will be interesting to see exactly what these tires can do, however judging from the photo releases, they don’t look like they could handle the stress and rigors of mountain biking and BMX is right out. They’re probably geared more for inner city travel, which is fun in its own right but only time will tell what they’re capable of handling.
The post Bridgestone Goes Airless with Resin-based Bicycle Tires appeared first on SolidSmack.
Read more about CAD, product design and related technology at SolidSmack.com
Source: http://www.solidsmack.com/design/bridgestone-goes-airless-resin-based-bicycle-tires/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).