Bicycle tires may have witnessed the least technical development over the past decades, especially in terms of design, but a recent innovation may change this path and perhaps confirm the saying “reinventing the wheel.”
The American company Smart Tire, in partnership with NASA, announced a new model of airless tires that innovatively uses materials that have the ability to remember their original shape when exposed to pressure!
The new frame includes a wire made of NiTinol, an alloy of nickel and titanium (metal).
what’s new?
Unlike many traditional runflat tires, which often come at the expense of rider comfort and are criticized for their stiffness, resistance to rolling, and the need for more effort when pedaling, inside the new tire, called “Metl,” is a coiled cord similar in design to a rubber tire. .
This wire is made of NiTinol, an alloy of nickel and titanium that is unique in its combination of strength (due to the nickel) and elasticity similar to rubber.
Exposure of the tire to pressure causes deformation of its shape, but it returns to its original state due to the materials from which it is made. This feature allows Metl tires to provide compression and rebound dynamics similar to conventional pneumatic tires.
Combining titanium with the flexibility of rubber provides shock absorption and durability thanks to NASA’s Nitinol (MET) technology.
Other advantages
Coating the Nitinol spring with a polyrubber material creates transparent sidewalls and makes the tire tread (the rubber on the tire in contact with the road) replaceable.
It is also noteworthy that the Metl tire requires only half the amount of rubber that a regular tire requires. While its tread may need to be replaced after about 8,000 to 12,000 km, the basic tire is designed to last for the life of the bike itself.
Pressure leads to deformation of the substance “Nitinol” at first, but it eventually returns to its original form (metal).
Technology inspired by NASA
This innovative approach is called “SMART” (Shape Memory Alloy Radial Technology) and aims to not only redefine the standards of bicycles, but also extend to a wide range of off-road vehicles.
While this technology was originally designed by NASA to meet the challenges faced by extraterrestrial exploration, especially Mars missions, it has found a transformative application on Earth.
Runflat tires (metal)
Experts say these future designs may offer flexibility in rigidity by allowing controlled air inflation, making them work similarly to compressed air.
Such advances in tire technology, including the elimination of flat tires, routine monitoring of air pressure, and reduced maintenance needs, indicate a huge leap forward in the world of cycling.
