This is why cars still don't have airless tires despite many other engineering achievements

In a world where you can order sushi with your phone, get groceries delivered by drone, and self-driving cars are becoming increasingly prevalent, you’d think airless tires would be mainstream by now.

So why are we still pulling over to fix a flat?

They’ve been ‘just around the corner’ for years. They’re flat-proof, low-maintenance, and supposedly future-proof. But they’re still nowhere to be seen.

Here’s why.

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Michelin and Bridgestone have cracked the tech… sort of

The idea’s been floating around forever.

Michelin kicked things off back in 2005 with the Tweel – an open-structure tire mostly seen on golf carts and lawn equipment.

Now there’s UPTIS – Michelin’s sleeker, road-ready prototype that’s being tested on compact EVs.

Bridgestone and Goodyear are in the game too.

One even made a version for NASA’s lunar rover. So yeah, if you’re driving on the moon, you’re set.

On paper, airless tires sound like a dream: no blowouts, no pressure checks, no sketchy roadside drama.

But in practice? Not quite logistically sound just yet.

Without air to absorb shock, they ride stiff and loud. Every pothole, crack, or loose manhole cover gets fed straight into your spine.

Then there’s heat.

Regular tires help cool themselves as they roll. Airless ones trap heat, which can lead to wear and performance drops – especially on long, fast drives in summer.

Oh, and they’re heavy.

More structure means more material, which adds weight, hurts efficiency, and makes life harder for your suspension.

That’s why early testing is mostly happening on small EVs that can handle the compromise.

It’s not a simple switch to airless tires

Even if tomorrow’s airless designs fix all of that, there’s still the big-picture stuff.

Carmakers have been building around traditional tires for decades – supply chains, factory tooling, maintenance protocols. Swapping everything out for a new kind of tire isn’t a small ask. It’s a total overhaul.

Then there’s safety certification.

Most tire regulations assume you’re working with pressurized rubber. Airless tires need their own rulebook – new tests, new categories, new standards. That takes time. And lots of it.

So it’s not that airless tires aren’t smart – they are. It’s just that everything else has to catch up first.

For now, they’re still in the test lane. And that spare in your trunk? Hold onto it for now.

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