Metal bike tires
03-17-21, 10:25 AM
#1
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Metal bike tires
"It’s incredible technology that will soon be available in the coming years for a vehicle that will probably never leave Earth’s atmosphere: your bike. A startup called The Smart Tire Company has announced that it’s creating a metal bicycle tire using NASA’s Nitinol alloy that never needs to be inflated, will never spring a leak, and will probably survive a lot longer than the bike itself."
https://gizmodo.com/nasas-nearly-ind...igh-1846488605
I had to really restrain myself on the title, think of the possibilities.
https://gizmodo.com/nasas-nearly-ind...igh-1846488605
I had to really restrain myself on the title, think of the possibilities.
03-17-21, 10:30 AM
#2
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It's hard to imagine metal having a good grip on asphalt while cornering.
Even worse when the road is wet.
Even worse when the road is wet.
03-17-21, 10:34 AM
#3
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You paint on a rubber like coating for grip. Why not do that with something other than metal that would provide a better ride?
03-17-21, 10:41 AM
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Oh lord, it’s the tweel again
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03-17-21, 01:12 PM
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I'm really trying to be open minded but there are some howlers.
"Over time the tread will wear out and need to be reapplied, but that maintenance is expected to be a lot cheaper than having to regularly replace a set of tires." Shipping alone kills that. How many thousand miles does the "coating" last?
"We have identified several R&D goals related to dropping our material costs by up to 90%. In addition, there is intense ongoing research at the laboratory stage involving comparable materials that are ~80% cheaper than NiTinol." Spoiler alert - it's steel
"Over time the tread will wear out and need to be reapplied, but that maintenance is expected to be a lot cheaper than having to regularly replace a set of tires." Shipping alone kills that. How many thousand miles does the "coating" last?
"We have identified several R&D goals related to dropping our material costs by up to 90%. In addition, there is intense ongoing research at the laboratory stage involving comparable materials that are ~80% cheaper than NiTinol." Spoiler alert - it's steel
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Last edited by Darth Lefty; 03-17-21 at 01:15 PM.
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03-17-21, 01:15 PM
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I'm really trying to be open minded but there are some howlers.
"Over time the tread will wear out and need to be reapplied, but that maintenance is expected to be a lot cheaper than having to regularly replace a set of tires." Shipping alone kills that. How many thousand miles does the "coating" last?
"Over time the tread will wear out and need to be reapplied, but that maintenance is expected to be a lot cheaper than having to regularly replace a set of tires." Shipping alone kills that. How many thousand miles does the "coating" last?
03-17-21, 01:21 PM
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03-17-21, 01:24 PM
#9
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When costs vs performance vs durability graphs cross at the proper places then we'll take a look.
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03-17-21, 01:42 PM
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I don't want to discount that these are some serious people doing real engineering. Nitinol isn't new - it's the same stuff used for glasses frames. Read the list of applications at that link, it's good stuff. The idea of making a tire for the consumer market is the innovation. In terms of price they are making some visible compromises. Their tire is made only of wire that appears to be laid on the bias ply and only bent a little like a mesh - their buggy wheels have much more complex weave of much more shaped wires. They are working with real industry, not using Kickstarter to "innovate" a couple of microchips together in a little block of plastic.
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03-17-21, 02:08 PM
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Heavy and expensive: What's not to like?
03-17-21, 02:13 PM
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They’re still not here, though, not even for bikes, which is just about the least demanding application for the technology.
03-17-21, 02:17 PM
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A solution looking for a problem.
03-18-21, 01:58 AM
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Yeah nah, count me out
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03-18-21, 02:33 AM
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Ignoring Covid, I’m an all-year commuter in a place where winter really means something. Due to medical reasons, I really need to avoid flats during winter.
I’d be willing to consider a studded version.
Summer use, meh.
I’d be willing to consider a studded version.
Summer use, meh.
03-18-21, 07:36 AM
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So they would be like a tattoo? The same looking tire on your bike forever? Wonderful. You might have some Regerts later on after installing them.
It makes me think of this:
It makes me think of this:
Last edited by seypat; 03-18-21 at 07:40 AM.
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03-18-21, 08:49 AM
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From the article:
Pretty much says it all.
For cyclists who are happy to spend tens of thousands of dollars on their bikes, ...
