Michelin’s Tweel an Innovation in Action

The French tire company Michelin is one of the three major tire manufacturers in the world, and as such, it is at the forefront of innovation. Since its first pneumatic tire patent in 1891, the company has gone on to create tires for automobiles, trains, aircraft, heavy machinery and even space shuttles. Michelin was on the leading edge of technological advances such as radial tires and run-flat tires. In 2004, Michelin invented the “Tweel,” an airless tire that has various applications in the real world, including in heavy construction, military vehicles and others. Here’s a primer on this unusual tire. 

The Tweel (an integrated tire and wheel) is a tire that does not require air inside. Unlike nearly every other radial tire on the road, a Tweel does not include rubber that is sealed around a central wheel. If you are looking at the tire, you can see through to the other side, kind of like a super wide bicycle tire but with shorter, flexible spokes and a bigger center hub where it’s attached to the vehicle. 

The Tweel’s hub is connected to the outside steel shear beam by thin, deformable rubber spokes. When installed on a vehicle, the Tweel transfers the weight above it down toward the ground, bending the rubber spokes on the bottom half of these Michelin tires and creating a larger contact surface. Some Tweels have smooth exterior rubber, like tires used on skid steer loaders, and others have aggressive tread. 

Because there is no air in the tire, loss of pressure or flat tires is not a concern, and maintenance is almost non-existent. The expanded contact surface allows for better traction and stability while the ride comfort is comparable to traditional tires. The Tweel’s permeable design allows water to be easily shed while in motion, reducing the risk of accidents due to hydroplaning. The tread on the outside of the shear beam can be replaced when worn so you don’t have to throw out an entire rubber tire, which makes these Michelin tires an environmentally friendly option. 

Airless tires have been adapted to work well on a variety of machinery, including regular passenger vehicles. They are particularly useful on military vehicles because shrapnel, heavy rocks or rough terrain won’t damage Tweels as they do pneumatic tires. 

Michelin tires, including Tweels, can be found a retailers across the nation. Airless tires tend to be more expensive that conventional tires, but when longevity, operating costs and the elimination of maintenance is taken into account, the tires become more cost effective. Michelin has been an innovator in tire science for more than 125 years. From studded tires to run-flat tires and radials, the company has been creating solutions for mobility challenges for its customers. The Tweel is just one example of outside-the-box thinking that has led to new inventions in tire technology.