Of course, the Michelin tire shown in the blowups is a fork lift tire. They are developing automotive tires but rolling resistance is very poor. There is also concern about the heat resistance of the poly resin spokes. Fine in normal conditions, but if the rotors turn red as they do in rallying...
A few years ago, Michelin had a plastic injected wheel that they almost brought to market. It was shelved for the same reason. (The development vehicle had inboard brakes so the problem didn't show up during the development phase.)
The push for a non-pneumatic solution is basically from legal. Tire manufacturers spend a great deal on legal defense. Most problems are due to folks not keeping enough air in their tires--eliminate the air and big bucks are going to be saved.
A few years ago, Michelin had a plastic injected wheel that they almost brought to market. It was shelved for the same reason. (The development vehicle had inboard brakes so the problem didn't show up during the development phase.)
The push for a non-pneumatic solution is basically from legal. Tire manufacturers spend a great deal on legal defense. Most problems are due to folks not keeping enough air in their tires--eliminate the air and big bucks are going to be saved.
