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Michelin's 3D-Printed Non-Pneumatic Tire Concept

…with renewable treads

By Rain Noe - August 10, 2017

in Cars

If you buy a reliable car, it'll last you for more than 100,000 miles. But your first set of tires will only last for a fraction of that. Then they're off to the landfill, or an energy-intensive recycling process, while you buy a new set. Rinse and repeat. And if you've ever seen an entire field of spent tires being set on fire just to get rid of them—and I have seen this—you really think to yourself "What the hell are we doing here, as a species?"

Tire manufacturer Michelin is looking to a future where this cycle no longer occurs. Their Visionary Concept tire, which is non-pneumatic, would be 3D-printed from biodegradable materials. And intriguingly, the tread surface of the tire could be renewed—on-car, in their vision—with a new layer printed directly on top of it:

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I like that the video shows everything from the UX point of view. With futuristic technologies, I think it's always better to relate to the consumer how, precisely, the new concept would fit into their lives.

Michelin hasn't announced any concrete plans to produce the tire; it's intended to showcase the type of thinking that guides their R&D. They're aiming to create...

...A circular economy capable of protecting the planet's resources by reducing, reusing, renewing or recycling the materials required to manufacture our products, and avoid leaving a negative impact on the environment. This approach has been dubbed the "4R Strategy" at Michelin, for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Renew. We bear in mind that, for mobility to have a bright future, it will have to be ever safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.

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Raul Gonzalez III

7 years ago

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One Word: Cleaning. Anyone has an idea how do i get rid of branches and stuff that get inside the small crevises? High-pressure rinsing?

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Chris Weigand

7 years ago

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It's great that Michelin is fostering this sort of conversation in materials and process; innovation. A great concept that can be a stepping stone towards a future that challenges conventional thinking around product, production and service. Tires are a great product ripe for blue sky innovation.

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Marshall Dean

7 years ago

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The real question here is where did she get that ice cream cone in the desert? Does it come complimentary with the purchase of new tires?

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- nagash .
  
  Marshall Dean
  
  7 years ago
  
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  that car obviously has a built in coffee, cream and ice cream dispenser in front of the passenger seat :)
  
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George Mokray

7 years ago

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One for bikes please.

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