Officially presented in 2019, Uptis tires, Michelin’s airless tire project, are still long overdue in France and around the world. However, they could finally arrive earlier than expected on the market if we are to believe the statements of the president of Michelin USA.
On the occasion of the Munich IAA Mobility show held in September 2021, Michelin gave news of an ambitious project: Uptis airless tires. Introduced in 2019 and developed in partnership with General Motors, these tires eliminate any risk of puncture or bursting. According to the details of the manufacturer, the Uptis is mounted on an aluminum wheel fitted with a flexible load-bearing structure made of a synthetic rubber composite and high-strength glass-resin.
A tread made of natural rubber is then applied to this same structure. With Uptis tyres, Michelin wants to revolutionize the field of tires by offering a model that is both more resistant, more enduring and, by extension, less polluting. It is also part of the brand’s objective to use 100% sustainable materials in their tires by 2050.
Uptis tires could land in 2025
However, one question remains unanswered: when does Michelin intend to market Uptis tyres? The brand had not yet given a release window, until now. In an interview given to our colleagues from CNN, the CEO of Michelin USA Alexis Garcin confirmed that the launch of Uptis tires could take place “in three to five years”. In other words, these airless tires could well arrive in 2025 on French roads in the best of cases.
As a reminder, Michelin is not the only one to innovate in the field of tyres. Indeed, Continental recently unveiled tires made from 50% recyclable materials or from renewable sources. This tire contains, for example, biomaterials such as natural rubber extracted from dandelions, silicate thanks to rice husk ash, not to mention many vegetable oils. More recently, Goodyear in turn presented tires optimized for Tesla and electric vehicles. They have the particularity of offering greater durability and better rolling resistance.
Source: CNN
