It’s in 2022 Michelin introduced the first airless tire concept, which led to a first production model called Uptis. However, no car manufacturer had yet developed one from scratch. Nissan breaks the ice and files a patent for the principle with the World Intellectual Property Organization. The manufacturer even seems ready to move forward with a production example.
Improved for better handling
We could read in Nissan’s patent that the manufacturer installed a larger number of rubber spokes in the tire chamber than the Michelin Uptis offers. According to the manufacturer: the more spokes there are, the more grip the tire has and reacts better to uneven road surfaces and when driving in a sporty manner.
Nissan claims its tire can be installed on all model types, from sports cars to full-size SUVs, for front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications.
But why should you care?
So why is an automaker like Nissan interested in building a tire? This could be a direct response to the latest emissions standards 7 euros which were hotly contested by the automotive industry. This standard targets not only greenhouse gas emissions from thermal vehicles, but also particle emissions from brakes and tires.
However, because the airless tire has a lower risk of punctures and is inherently more durable than an ordinary tire due to its design, fewer tires need to be replaced, resulting in a reduction in the environmental footprint.