Toyo "noair" concept tyres: highly safe and efficient

The Japanese company has been developing airless tyres since 2006. The noair tyres presented in September 2017 are its sixth concept. Due to the implementation of innovative technologies and modern materials, the novelty features rolling resistance reduced by 25% compared to standard pneumatic tyres. The braking distance became less as well by 4%, on average. Such tyres are expected to be fitted to mass production vehicles, first of all, to electric cars.

In Toyo noair tyres, the main load is supported not by inner tube filled with air but by X-shaped spokes made from high-rigidity resin, placed in a circle. The road grip is provided by the tread made from compound produced using Nano Balance technology that allows creating an ideal material at the nano level. A large number of spokes and a layer of hydrocarbon plastic placed between them and the tread help to evenly distribute the load on the whole tyre structure, increasing its durability.

According to experts, Toyo noair can be fitted to mass production vehicles even now. However, the noise made by the tyres and their damping properties still need to be considered. While road noise is as loud as the one made by pneumatic tyres, unpleasant sounds heard in the passenger compartment are much worse. Moreover, driving a car fitted with airless tyres on a bad road might be very uncomfortable as they dampen vibrations and smooth surface roughness worse than pneumatic tyres.

However, airless tyres have one huge advantage: there is no risk of a car accident caused by a flat tyre when driving at a high speed, so the benefit of perfecting them is quite obvious. The Japanese manufacturer is planning to continue improving the technology in order to introduce perfect airless tyres to the world in the nearest future.