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A Bike Invention from Norway: Zip-On, Zip-Off Tire Treads

If only they had these for cars

By Rain Noe - November 29, 2018

in Bikes

"What happens when a bunch of creative (and somewhat lazy) engineers get together to solve the pain of tire changes?" writes Norway-based bike accessories outfit reTyre. "They add zippers, file for a patent and remove the need for tire changes completely."

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We'll place this in the category of Design Ideas Cooked Up at a Bar, but it looks like they've got this kooky concept working:

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"We have rigorously tested and improved the reTyre System all around the world," the company writes. "Over the past year, more than 4,500 units of the alpha version have been sold and tested."

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I had wondered about how the ends attach to each other, as it's not shown in the video. Interestingly, it appears that they're joined by a sort of "tongue," the way Hot Wheels tracks go together (or at least used to when I was a kid):

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Judging by their retailer map, there's no place in Norway where you can't buy reTyres, though neighboring Denmark and Sweden appear to have gotten the retail shaft.

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Much of northern Europe appears to have at least one retailer per country.

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Following a successful Kickstarter campaign based out of Delaware, reTyres will be coming to America in 2019. Now if only they could pull this off for car tires….

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Chaz Osborne Jr

5 years ago

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1Z

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I saw this on kickstarter and had to laugh. As an avid cyclist I could not envision a need for this.
Why in the world would I want that extra weight on my wheels? Or why would I want to carry the bulky skins around when I don't need them. Hey somebody will buy them.

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- N G
  
  Chaz Osborne Jr
  
  5 years ago
  
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  1Z
  
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  This is for people who don't call themselves avid cyclists. The ones who don't dress up to ride a bike or need a shower after. The ones who simply use their bike as transport to get to work or school, every day of the week, every week of the year. Some of these day they wake up and see snow, especially in Norway. Do they care about extra weight on the tires? No, they care about their safety and being where they need to be on time.
  
  I have no idea if this actually works or not, but "avid cyclists" need to stop pretending they have a interpretative prerogative on anything concerning bikes and that when they don't need it no one does.
  
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- Brad Johnson
  
  Chaz Osborne Jr
  
  5 years ago
  
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  You might not have noticed the purpose of these skins. It converts a slick road tire to a tread (or tread with metal studs). Since it often rains and snows in Norway, I assume these would be quite useful for people who use their bike as a sole means of transportation.
  
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- K O
  
  Chaz Osborne Jr
  
  5 years ago
  
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  An avid cyclist that’s both a junior and a Chaz? It can’t possibly get more vinegar and water than that. Two generations of Chaz? Avid as a self descriptor? Gross. It’s all so gross.
  
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