[vixx]

Polaris is thinking about offering us a new type of plastic tire for its off-road vehicles that doesn't go flat and isn't inflatable.

The tires are made of a specialty plastic that has give when going over sharp or rocky terrain. Polaris acquired the technology in 2012 when they bought a startup called Resilient Technologies. The initial market has been the military, with Michelin already supplying them.

One Polaris executive estimated that eventually more than half of Polaris' consumer off-road vehicle customers could opt for the new tires, according to a story in the Star Tribune.

Airless tires are relatively quiet when running on the flat because there's no air chamber for road-noise to reverberate.

Check out the video..

Would anyone consider opting for these for their Viking? Im not sure what different sizes are available but I've seen videos of full size pickup trucks and Humvees rolling around on these...Keep in mind these arent just produced by Polaris, Michelin is already in the game and i expect other makers to get involved to a degree once they notice benefits and consumer uptake

 

[Teryx2k16]

wonder what the weight diffrence is?

 

[Dave C.]

I have seen this design go on years ago but have gone now where or at least in to consumer type vehicles or anything. I question how long the elasticity would last on those strand springs. I would love to try them out

 

[mr.smith]

Not sure if I would actually get them at this point, but I would be interested to keep an eye on them for a year or two to make sure they are reliable. They are a funny looking tire, huh?

 

[vixx]

I have seen this design go on years ago but have gone now where or at least in to consumer type vehicles or anything. I question how long the elasticity would last on those strand springs. I would love to try them out

I'm not sure about that but it is a good question, they would eventually have to breakdown or else theres no reason for the company to be in business. Imagine you bought one set of tires and that was it for life. LOL

I know they have been used in military applications for sometime now, thes US military even has Humvees on patrol rolling around on airless tires...

I wonder what kind of treads can be gotten for them..

 

[VikingRyder]

This tech should be used in armored vehicles seeing how well it can take a hit and still go.

As for being used on UTV's, this will make just regular riding much more comfortable as these tires will absorb a lot of the impact.

 

[cheeyz]

I would imagine cost of production is what is holding this technology back from being mainstream for ATVs.

 

[Hawkman]

Never pop a tire. That is a huge benefit. No wonder the military has been using them for a while now. What are they actually made of though?

 

[Badger]

I believe it's ballistic plastic or rubber built for rugged terrain and each spoke acts as an individual spring. I am surprised this hasn't made it out globally yet.

 

[vixx]

I would imagine cost of production is what is holding this technology back from being mainstream for ATVs.

thats a good point cheeyz, although I'm not sure if that is the reason. I did some more research and found that airless tires actually have higher rolling resistance, they also suffer trying to dissipate heat buildup that occurs through use.

I'd consider a set for my Viking whenever they get retailed, although i do wonder how they would perform through mud or swamps when theres all kinds of guck that can bet in between the internal springs...

 

[cheeyz]

They work for ATVs/UTVs/Off-Road vehicles

Not meant for road vehicles due to the heat and rolling resistance problems. I knew that much.

But beyond all of that. The price of these tires is far greater than a standard rubber tire. That is definitely the biggest factor.

 

[vixx]

They work for ATVs/UTVs/Off-Road vehicles

Not meant for road vehicles due to the heat and rolling resistance problems. I knew that much.

But beyond all of that. The price of these tires is far greater than a standard rubber tire. That is definitely the biggest factor.

do you know much about the manufacturing process? I'm not familiar and would be very interested if you could share anything. Cheers

 

[cheeyz]

I don't but just look at the tire. There is no way it's cheaper to manufacture compared to regular rubber tires.

 

[Kuraza]

Unless they get a contract with all the SxS manufactures it won;t be for a while till they get lower in price. Maybe that is why it took so long for them to make it out.