Airless tires aren’t prepared for manufacturing vehicles, however European police are eyeing them as a result of they can not be shot out throughout automotive chases, a Michelin govt stated in a current interview with The Drive.

“The police of some European nations visited us and stated, ‘Guys, we wish this below our vehicles, as a result of when now we have to hurry after the dangerous guys, normally they put a bullet in our tires earlier than they go. So, we’d like it,'” Michelin senior vp Bruno de Feraudy stated within the interview, including that Michelin had examined its Uptis airless tire at speeds as much as 130 mph on police autos by itself monitor.

GM, Michelin Uptis airless tire prototype

Police vehicles aren’t the one potential software. In the identical article, Michelin CEO Florent Menegaux is quoted as saying autonomous autos is perhaps a superb match as properly, once more as a result of they are not susceptible to punctures like typical pneumatic tires. Meaning passengers will not should get out of a automobile they don’t seem to be even driving to alter a tire.

Michelin first confirmed the prototype Uptis, brief for Distinctive Puncture-proof Tire System, on a Chevrolet Bolt EV in 2019. On the time, Common Motors stated it might check the Uptis tires on a fleet of Bolt EVs, with a view towards making them accessible on manufacturing autos as early as 2024.

Michelin Uptis prototype tire, on Chevrolet Bolt EV

Within the interview, Menegaux stated Michelin has additionally been in talks with Tesla about testing the Uptis tires, however neither govt would verify that the 2024 launch date mentioned by GM remains to be legitimate. Whereas Michelin launched an airless tire for UTVs in 2018, and confirmed a model for lawnmowers and skid-steer loaders earlier than that, it is unclear when, if ever, you can use them in your automotive. Menegaux famous that airless tires will doubtless all the time be restricted to particular functions, and will not exchange typical tires.

Different tire producers, together with Bridgestone, Goodyear, and Hankook, have proven prototype or idea airless tires over time as properly.