News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by eganist on Thursday June 06, 2019 @07:22AM (#20113416)
Can anyone hypothesize why there's no sidewall on these? Anything I come up with in my own mind I end up defeating.

Unrelated:

> max load of 1102 pounds.

I have to assume this is per tire considering the Chevy Bolt weighs 3,600lbs but it's not clear from the article.

Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by Angostura on Thursday June 06, 2019 @07:51AM (#20113580)
I assumed the sidewall had been cut away simply for the marketing images to show what is going on inside. I have no doubt the real thing will have a sidewall.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by mhb on Thursday June 06, 2019 @08:06AM (#20113683)
Seems likely since they will want to keep snow, ice, debris, out. But it can just be of a material to prevent that.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by jakear on Thursday June 06, 2019 @08:36AM (#20113918)
Article says “Michelin has introduced a .... [tire] that has no traditional sidewall”. So seems like it may not.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by Angostura on Thursday June 06, 2019 @09:44AM (#20114446)
Seems like I'm entirely wrong. I still reckon this gimmick will go.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by elliekelly on Thursday June 06, 2019 @07:38AM (#20113507)
I’m guessing because a sidewall on the tire wouldn’t be “airless”? And they’d have to check/monitor the air pressure of each of the “pockets” of air as temperature changes?

Full disclosure: I say this as someone who knows next to nothing about tires/tire pressure/cars in general. My tire pressure light has been on for at least three months now.

Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by jodrellblank on Thursday June 06, 2019 @08:22AM (#20113804)
My tire pressure light has been on for at least three months now.

From https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/safety/tyre-pressures

"Under inflated tyres will increase stopping distances and affect your vehicle’s handling so that collisions are more likely; Under inflated tyres will flex more and get hotter, making sudden tyre failure – blowouts – more likely; Under or over inflation increases tyre wear so you’ll have to buy new tyres more often; Under inflation increases your tyre’s rolling resistance which means higher fuel consumption"

Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by jfk13 on Thursday June 06, 2019 @08:06AM (#20113686)
> My tire pressure light has been on for at least three months now.

Maybe worth getting that checked?

Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by elliekelly on Thursday June 06, 2019 @09:07AM (#20114158)
Indeed, I'm told it's a sensor malfunction not the tire pressure. Apparently it's a known issue with Toyotas. The mechanic is nice enough to check the pressure for me when he sees me getting gas since the "new" sensor (sensors?) didn't keep the light off very long.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by astura on Thursday June 06, 2019 @09:02AM (#20114121)
Please fill your tires, driving on under inflated tires is dangerous.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by mensetmanusman on Thursday June 06, 2019 @07:24AM (#20113426)
I’m guessing weight.

The added inertia would provide more shear stress in the rubber to get the tire accelerating. That could have a lifetime affect due to crazing in the polymer/fiber network (which can be especially prone to failure due to interfacial failure between the solid fibers and polymer matrix).

Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by MisterTea on Thursday June 06, 2019 @07:42AM (#20113530)
> I have to assume this is per tire considering the Chevy Bolt weighs 3,600lbs but it's not clear from the article.

Your assumption is correct. Tire load ratings are per tire.

Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by smugworth on Thursday June 06, 2019 @07:52AM (#20113588)
If the tire had closed sidewalls, you'd never know someone had the new tires without obtrusive labelling. Open sidewalls market themselves, not only do you see it's a different tire, you see it's an entirely different tire design that's relatively easy to comprehend the benefit of even if you know nothing about them.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by swish_bob on Thursday June 06, 2019 @08:59AM (#20114096)
I'm not clear why people are leaping directly from "no traditional sidewall" to "no sidewall". It seems pretty likely that there will be a lightweight, porous, tough and possibly flexible sidewall just to keep rocks. etc out. Otherwise you're going to pick up sand, grit and rocks constantly.
Re:Michelin Rolls Out an Airless Tire That Will Be “Puncture... by martin_henk on Thursday June 06, 2019 @07:28AM (#20113442)
i don't know why, but adding a wall seems like stiffening the whole wheel. secondly, manufacturing the same thing with walls seem kind of impossible.