Meet the tweel

[Gerryf]

Never thought they'd reinvent the wheel :

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=669906n&tag=related;photovideo



Is this the beginning of the end for the humble wheel ?

[SC03OTT]

January 31, 2005 3:12 AM

I wonder if there is any updated material out there. I remember seeing that video years ago.

[vc-10]

They said about how it might 'take the air out of the tyre industry' (epic cheese...) but most of the time I replace the tyres because they're worn out, not because they're punctured. I don't think they'll take off, as they'll probably be more expensive than regular tyres but still need replacing just as much (you still need the rim to be rubber for grip)

[SammoVWT]

Whats this about? Solid tyres?

I cant watch it as im at work. Seems pointless if it is. More rubber = more cost.

Plus good luck using them in the UK with the potholes, shock (damper! ;)) replacement ahoy!

Tbh i tend to avoid driving over a bed of nails.

[Hex69]

Whats this about? Solid tyres?

I cant watch it as im at work. Seems pointless if it is. More rubber = more cost.

Plus good luck using them in the UK with the potholes, shock (damper! ;)) replacement ahoy!

Tbh i tend to avoid driving over a bed of nails.

Here you go.

http://onemansblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Tweel.jpg

[SammoVWT]

Good god thats hideous. Most definately pointless. They should fit it to trains instead.

Pothole/Kerb will definately result in a broken rim and or suspension parts. Speaking of kerbing, what happens if you catch the edge of the tyre? Wont it fall off?

I'll stick with the tried and tested. Perhaps I will fit some oversized lego wheels and see how that goes.

[DropKickMurphy]

I had solid rubber tyres on a push bike years ago and they were useless, riding over bumps at <15mph and within a few weeks the wheels resembled pringles.

i cant imagine what would happen if you hit a bump or two on the motorway at 70mph, surely the wheels would buckle in no time at all?

DKM

[NickPicks]

These aren't solid. They have flexible spoke type bits instead or sidewalls and air. I saw a clip about them on Top gear or something (might even have been Tomorrow's World - it was that long ago).

[Ben]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmL2LCb6q7Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[SammoVWT]

After watching the video, watching that audi cornering, you can see the metal part of the wheel pushing out.

Im wondering how it would hold up after a year of use, if those plastic parts connected to the alloy give way on a corner, it could be horrific :/

Cool idea, but im not convinced i'd switch just yet, plus if you had a fast car which would burn through rubber pretty quickly, im not sure if that level of tread is enough - Just feels odd.

Would rolling resistance be higher aswell? It looks quite squashed as its moving at the bottom. Perhaps is quite a hard compound :o

They should test it on UK roads with our fabulous potholes!