[ephc]

Hi guys...
Newbie here...just picked up my Elise last month. AW with Touring and TC...Only had it on the road a few times, but love the car....

anyway, came across this today...the concept is interesting, but posting this more for the pic of the tires on the Elise rotfl

I wonder how these would feel driving on the road
:crazyeyes

Cars: Concept Tire Splits in Eight to Maintain Traction at all Times

 

[Bgwilly31]

holy crap...Thats pretty cool.

 

[Demonized]

I'd personally be sort of concerned about the structural integrity of the wheel, but cool none the less.

 

[DeepAmpeg]

OMG! I'd hate to see the cost of replacement tires heh. Very cool concept.

 

[qu1Z]

Would be good for offroading.

 

[elisesile]

Totally contrary to the Elise/Exige design concept. Overly complex, overly heavy (unsprung no less). Silly fantasy.

 

[swaq]

Totally contrary to the Elise/Exige design concept. Overly complex, overly heavy (unsprung no less). Silly fantasy.

Agreed. I'm not sure if the benefits (assuming it actually works) would offset the added weight. I imagine their would be some balancing issues as well.

 

[Whiskey]

To the Physics Majors:

I'm no engineer (minored in mechanical engineering) but, would this drastically change the downforce to the tire?

I realize that the contact area of the tire on the road does not change, but how much of the lateral force would be transfered down?

Weird, unpractical, fantasy design, but the transfer of force is interesting.
Imagine having to match air pressure accross each patch of tire.

 

[jeavis]

similar to this 2002 Mercedes-Benz F400 Carving Concept only MB's looks way less complicated.

 

[mrluky]

It will be along time before anyone thinks up of a design better than the pneumatic wheel/tire combo for cars.

 

[pMarty]

cool pictures ... interesting concept ... poor execution

 

[Seb]

This is called the Tweel, and they have been developing it for almost 10 years.

 

[pMarty]

It will be along time before anyone thinks up of a design better than the pneumatic wheel/tire combo for cars.

the tweel is better in some respects.

 

[pMarty]

This is called the Tweel, and they have been developing it for almost 10 years.

dude. you just beat me to it ... no its not a tweel ^ that is

 

[Seb]

It is a little different than the tweel...... what the hell is it?

 

[pMarty]

i'm not sure what its called.

the tweel maintains similar characteristics as a pneumatic tire but can be tuned much more easily. such as you can decrease pneumatic trail with out increasing the over all stiffness of the tire.

 

[delise]

On Gizmodo somebody engineering oriented pointed out that the design shown would collapse during a heavy turn due to the placement of the control arms on the lower bottom of the wheel , the ride would probably feel like sitting on a paint shaker placed on steel wheeled roller skates on a cobblestone road

 

[elisesile]

The tweel I like...