That disposable plastic bottle or cup you just threw out could one day return as a revitalised puncture-proof tyre, made by Michelin.
Better still, Singapore will be a key part of this new development. Renowned french tyre company Michelin is testing this new prototype technology locally, in partnership with DHL Express.
One of the biggest woes of motoring in Singapore is getting an unlucky puncture due to loose or sharp objects on the road. Unnecessary punctures can even lead to scenarios such as losing control of the vehicle or having to stop by the road shoulder due to a flat tyre.
Michelin, which aims to start marketing these futuristic puncture-proof tyres in 2024, is confident that motorists who use such tyres in the near future need not worry about these potential road hazards.
A teaser image of prototype tyres was shared on Facebook, fitted to a DHL Express delivery van. From the image, we can see that the tyres are puncture-proof because they are made with a grooved structure with slits running from the centre to the outer tyre wall, and do not use air to form their general structure.
This isn’t the first time Michelin has leaked prototypes of such tyres. Back in 2019, Michelin debuted a similar prototype tyre at a trade event in Montreal, Canada. Since then, Michelin must have tested these new compounds in various real-life conditions, and in different parts of the world during its development.
To make these tyres more environmentally friendly too, Michelin also said it will begin using recycled plastic materials in its new tyres starting in 2024. The biggest advantage these tyres have is that without the worry of punctures, these tyres can be used to their maximum lifespan, increasing overall longevity.
Michelin even conducted research between 2012 and 2015 and found that 20 per cent of all tyres scrapped annually were those that unfortunately fell ill to punctures or had uneven wear due to incorrect air pressure figures.
So, would you make the switch to these new tyres?
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(Photo Credits: The Straits Times)
