They are developing puncture-proof bicycle tires based on NASA technology

It’s rare enough to be highlighted, but here is a revolutionary product announced a few years ago which is finally starting its marketing. In 2021, The Smart Tire Company presented its prototypes of puncture-proof tires, which operate without a tube. airair. Two and a half years later, the firm has developed a finished product called Metl and wishes to finance production via a campaign on le site Kickstarter.

Metl tires are based on technology developed by the NasaNasa. Instead of the inner tube, the manufacturer uses a spring made with materialmaterial has shape memoryshape memory called Nitinol, a alloyalloy of nickelnickel and of titaniumtitanium. The spring goes around the wheel and has the advantage of being solidsolid like titanium and elastic like rubberrubber. Unlike other tubeless solutions, Metl can deform to absorb bumps and road irregularities, then return to its original shape, to provide a cycling experience similar to a conventional tire.

Delivery from June 2024

The part containing the spring should never need to be replaced. It is surrounded by an envelope translucenttranslucent on the coast. The part in contact with the ground is based on rubber like a conventional tire, but with 50% of mattermatter in less, and will need to be changed approximately every 8,000 to 13,000 kilometers.

For two bicycle tires, count on 500 dollars. The firm also offers scooter wheels at $150 per pair, or bicycle wheels with tires already installed from $1,500 for the version in aluminiumaluminium or $2,300 for wheels in carbon fibercarbon fiber. However, you will have to be patient, since delivery is scheduled for June 2024.

A young company has designed a bicycle tire made of a shape memory alloy based on technology that NASA created for future exploration vehicles for Mars and the LuneLune. A revolution that she hopes to extend toautomobileautomobile and aerospace.

Article from Marc ZaffagniMarc Zaffagnipublished on March 20, 2021

Space agencies like to point out that the cutting-edge technologies they develop frequently find applicationsapplications which improve the daily lives of Earthlings. In this case, an innovation from NASA could soon shake up the tire industry. It is the ambition of The SMART Tire Company, a startup founded in 2020 as part of a partnership with the American space agency. She developed an airless bicycle tire based on technology NASA created for future Mars and Moon exploration vehicles.

SMART is the acronym for Shape Memory Alloy Radial Technology which designates the nitinol-based alloy (nickel-titanium) used to manufacture the frame of this puncture-proof tire. It has the double advantage of being elastic like rubber and resistant like titanium. “ Even in the event of extreme deformation, the tire regains 100% of its shape thanks to transitions de phasetransitions de phase at the molecular level », Explains the company.

The first consumer product derived from this technology will be the Metl, a bicycle tire which will be available in road, gravel, mountain bike and electric bike versions. To be able to adapt the profile of the tire to the practice, the shape memory frame will be coated with a special mixture of rubber and polyurethane supposed to resist much longer than a standard tire. “ A tire for the whole durationduration life of your bike (no leaks, tears, punctures orwaterproofingwaterproofing messy) », promises The SMART Tire Company. And when the wear of the coating is too high, the tread can be retreaded, as is done for heavy goods vehicle tires.

Becoming “the Tesla of the tire industry”

Regarding the behavior of a Metl tire, for the moment we must rely on what its designers say. They say they have developed a prototype 700c road tire simulating a pressionpression of 100 PSI (6.8 barsbars) which they tested with a classic tire on the same bike. According to them, there was no perceptible difference when driving. They assure that a Metl would be immune to pinching and could adopt a flatter profile to offer better traction. This will be of great interest to mountain bikers.

The marketing of Metl should begin next year. No pricing has been announced yet, but the company warns that it will initially be a high-end positioning. However, she says she is already in the process of floorfloor in R&D on new materials potentially 80% less expensive than nitinol. Because the bicycle is only a first step in The SMART Tire Company’s strategy, which combines the markets for electric cars and two-wheelers, heavy goods vehicles, military vehicles and even aerospace. “ When Tesla launched into electric vehicles more than 17 years ago, it set the standard for eco-friendly transportation. We humbly follow their example in the tire industry “. Will it take as long as Tesla to achieve success?