You are already familiar with run-flat tires, which allow you to keep driving for a distance of about 80 kilometres despite a puncture. But recently, Michelin has unveiled a new tire that goes even further: the Uptis. Developed in partnership with General Motors, it’s a new puncture-proof Michelin tire that will make spare tires bite the dust when it will be launched on the market in a few years. Blackcircles Canada tells you more!
What is the Uptis tire?
The word Uptis is an acronym for Unique Puncture-proof Tire System, and the Michelin Uptis is hence a puncture-proof tire, seen for the first time in 2017 and unveiled in 2019. It is an airless tire with exclusive technology that cannot be punctured due to its unique structure.
How is it designed?
Featuring composite materials developed using new technology, these tires will offer performances comparable to current tires, with the difference that they will be puncture-proof. These Michelin airless tires, composed of a wheel/tire assembly, have the added advantage that they can never be under-inflated!
Don’t look for the Uptis inner tube: it has been replaced by semi-flexible rubber bands, the spokes of which help to absorb the various road imperfections. According to the designers of the Michelin Uptis, this particular and unique design will allow for better handling and comfort.
What else makes this tire unique?
The marketing of these tires will delight environmentally conscious consumers, as they will help prevent too many tires from ending up in landfills before the end of their useful life. In fact, did you know that 20% of the tires on the market (about 20 millions) are discarded each year because of punctures or because they are worn out due to improper pressure? By using this Michelin puncture-proof tire, the environmental benefits will be immediately noticeable since fewer tires would end up in the landfill.
Another environmental benefit is the elimination of the spare tire. If we count all the CO2 emitted during the manufacture of spare tires, which will be released in smaller quantities, combined with the reduced CO2 emissions released by vehicles—which will be lighter due to the absence of the spare—we arrive at a smaller ecological footprint.
Finally, a puncture-proof tire would be greatly appreciated by companies, who would see the number of service interruptions caused by punctures drastically reduced.
Will they be compatible with all vehicles?
It’s too early to say at this time. However, they will be particularly popular with manufacturers of autonomous cars, since these models do not “support” punctures; they will also prove to be very useful for electric cars. But chances are that Michelin will make every effort to disseminate its innovation and make it accessible to as many people as possible.
What is GM’s role in the development?
As a long-standing partner, it is only natural that Michelin has chosen to collaborate with General Motors for the research and development of the Uptis. In fact, the automaker is currently testing this airless tire on some of its Chevrolet Bolt EVs in the state of Michigan to observe how it performs in real-world driving conditions.
Is the Michelin Uptis already on the Canadian market?
We will have to wait until 2024 to see the first Michelin Uptis tires on the market, at which time we will know which vehicles will be able to take advantage of them first. All we know for the moment is that it will be designed for cars, which suggests a fairly broad deployment.
And as a sign that this is a new and revolutionary concept, the Michelin Uptis has already received awards, years before it was launched on the market! Indeed, it was the recipient of 3 different awards in 2019 in the tire of the year and innovation categories: the Golden Steering Wheel Award 2019 (from the German press group Auto Bild), the COYOTE Automobile Award 2020 (awarded by the European Coyote community) and the AVT ACES Award 2020, from the American magazine Autonomous Vehicle Technology.
Blackcircles Canada stays abreast of future developments about this revolutionary tire; be sure not to miss the latest info on this subject!
