Leave It to NASA to Reinvent the Tire
NASA’s Glenn Research center has created a non-pneumatic, compliant tire.
It’s called the “Superelastic Tire” and was developed for future Mars missions, but it’s possible it could be used as a viable alternative to pneumatic tires here on Earth. By using shape memory alloys that are capable of undergoing high strain as load bearing components, the Superelastic Tire is able to withstand excessive deformation without permanent damage. In addition, the shape memory alloy can also increase the load carrying capacity of the tire.
SEE ALSO: Everyone is Working on Airless Rubber for Your Future Car
NASA says the Superelastic Tire offers traction equal or superior to conventional pneumatic tires while eliminating the possibility of puncture failures — because a flat tire on Mars would be a nightmare. The technology also eliminates the need for an inner frame, which simplifies and lightens the entire wheel and tire assembly.
The idea of an airless tire isn’t exactly new, and there are actually a few tire manufacturers working on non-pneumatic products. The problem right now is that companies are having a hard time finding a product that works at high speeds.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Last I heard, they had tyres that could perform well at high speeds but it was the road noise they were trying to eliminate.