gullible investors and the crackpot inventors got together on this one.
------------------- Michelin unveils airless tire
Designed for use in developing countries, "tweel" tires are made of elastic. September 21, 2004: 2:38 PM EDT
PARIS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest tire maker Michelin unveiled an airless tire on Tuesday designed to weather tough road conditions in fast-growing countries like China and India.
gullible investors and the crackpot inventors got together on this one.
The idea is hardy new, and it's quite valid. So far the only problem with "solid" tyres (which have usually relied on closed cell foams AFAICT, so have actually had plenty of air in them) has been that the implementation is not up to cheap pneumatic mass market standards. You could have made the same argument about, say, recumbent cycles a few years back.
I'd hardly call Michelin's R&D department a magnet for "crackpot investors", it's part of a blue chip global company relying on innovation in its products. What's your particular problem with it? Ever known anyone to have a puncture?
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
