Singapore Is Testing Michelin Puncture-proof Tyres Made From Plastic Bottles

Your recycled yoghurt cup or plastic bottle could one day become a brand-new puncture-proof tyre, thanks to Singapore's involvement in the industry's advancement.

This prototype technology is being tested here by the French tyre manufacturer Michelin in collaboration with the logistics provider DHL Express.

A flat tyre won't cause drivers to experience hazards like losing control of their car or having to stop on the side of the road, according to Michelin, which plans to begin selling these puncture-proof tyres in 2024.

On December 1, pictures of the tyres installed on a DHL Express delivery vehicle were briefly posted before being taken down from the page of a nearby event organisation.

When questioned, DHL acknowledged that the car in the images was indeed theirs, but they would not elaborate on the van's tyres or the circumstances surrounding their installation.

The Land Transport Authority stated that it was aware that these tyres were being tested and that it has been collaborating with the parties to ensure that the necessary safety precautions are taken.

According to The Straits Times, there was at least one test with these tyres in Singapore in July 2022 at the Changi Exhibition Centre. The images posted on Facebook most likely come from a test event that took place in November.

Because they don't utilise pressurised air to maintain their shape, the tyres are impervious to punctures.

Instead, these airless tyres are propped up by what appear to be rubbery structural structures that protrude from the edge of the wheel.

Airless tyres have previously only been utilised on lighter vehicles, such the silver and orange shared bicycles that Mobike used when it was in business in Singapore.

At a business conference in Montreal, Canada, Michelin unveiled a prototype tyre in 2019 that was identical to the one on the DHL van. In September 2021, it also displayed the tyre at a German auto exhibition in Munich.

The company has stated that during its development, the prototypes would be tested in actual environments around the world.

Making a tyre impervious to punctures and blowouts not only increases convenience and safety but also allows for maximum lifespan utilisation, making the technology environmentally sustainable, according to Michelin.

According to research conducted between 2012 and 2015, 20% of all tyres that were trashed each year were those that exhibited uneven wear or were punctured due to insufficient air pressure. According to that estimate, Michelin said that using airless tyres may reduce waste production by up to 200 million tonnes annually.

There is a race among tyre manufacturers to create airless tyre technology.

They include the American company Goodyear, the South Korean company Hankook, and the Japanese brand Bridgestone, all of which have made prior declarations or shown prototypes.

Source: The Straits Times/ANN