Airless bike tyre uses recycled plastic spokes for a smooth ride

Airless Plastic tyres Bicycle 

Getting a puncture is a frustrating experience for any bike rider, but it could soon become a thing of the past.

A new set of plastic tyres could consign bike pumps and repair kits to the history books.

The unique design does away with the air-filled inner tube of conventional tyres, in favour of rigid plastic spokes that support the weight of the bike and its rider.

Benefits:

-Airless design means broken glass, sharp metal and other road debris pose no threat of a puncture

-Shock-absorbent structure will provide a smooth ride

- will reduce the amount of effort required to cycle, by lowering friction between the tyre and road surface.

-Wheels are made from 100 per cent recycled materials

-Manufacturer says it is working on making the wheels themselves recyclable,  to create an eco-friendly and sustainable cycle of  production.

The spokes stretch between an inner hub and the outer rubber tyre, and have been designed to be shock-absorbent to provide a smooth ride.

And because they contain no air, broken glass, sharp metal and other road debris pose no threat of a puncture.

They also promise to reduce the amount of effort required to cycle, by lowering the friction between the tyre and road surface.

Tokyo-based manufacturer Bridgestone says that the wheels were created from completely recycled materials.

The firm is also working on making the wheels themselves recyclable, to create an eco-friendly and sustainable cycle of production.

The wheels are currently a concept design, but the firm is hoping they will be available to buy in 2019.

The design is based on previous work by the company, dubbed the 'Air Free Concept', to provide wheels for cars and other motor vehicles.

The wheels have been in development since 2011, and in 2013 the company announced a second generation, which promised to deliver 60 km/hour speed (37 miles/hour) for ultralight vehicles.

In a statement on Bridgestone's website at the time, a spokesman said: 'There are developments and enhancements to be made before airless tires are available for consumers. 

+5

In 2013 Bridgestone announced a second generation of the tyres (pictured), which promised to deliver 60 kilometre hour speed (37 miles per hour) for ultralight vehicles

+5

The new tyre concept for bikes (pictured) could be available for purchase by 2019

'Finding a way to avoid trapping debris within the spokes, as well as developing the best way to distribute weight evenly and consistently transmit loads are a couple of these hurdles.

'For reasons like these, many spectators think airless tires are still a decade or so away.

'Despite this, the demand to keep up with the continuous advancements in the auto industry suggest that airless tires would be a welcome step forward for consumers as well as the auto industry.'

The technology also promises to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions in vehicles which adopted them.

+5

A number of vehicles have already adopted the tyres, from quad bikes to golf carts. And the technology could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by reducing road friction

The tyre manufacturer claims that about 90 per cent of energy loss comes from resistance created by repeated changes in the shape of the tyres as they roll.

By simplifying the structure, Bridgestone says it was able to minimise this energy loss, whatever the fuel source, be it electric, petrol or man power.

And a number of vehicles have already adopted these tyres, from quad bikes to golf carts.

It is unclear how much the airless tires will retail at.