Bridgestone Air-Free Tire Concept

The airless tire with internal spokes made from recyclable thermoplastic resin.

By Tom Wilson

Like reaching the south pole or flying non-stop un-refueled around the world, a true run-flat tire seems an elusive last-great-goal to the world of wheeled transport.

Now Bridgestone has debuted a new concept tire towards that goal. Of course, in this age some sort of environmental tie-in is required with any advancement, and so Bridgestone is emphasizing the concept’s green qualities of reduced material and 100 percent recyclability. It’s part of a “cradle-to-cradle” recycling process, says Bridgestone.

Bridgestone’s non-pneumatic concept follows other pioneering efforts—Michelin has, er, aired similar concepts previously. But Bridgestone’s Air-Free Concept tire seems to have advanced the idea with recyclable thermoplastic resin construction of its many internal spokes. It’s these spokes that give the tire its shape, strength and flexibility, while a more conventional outer sheath of rubber provides a traditional tread surface.

Load capacity may be limited at the moment; the Air-Free Concept is rated for just 150 kg (330 lbs) according to non-Bridgestone sources.

We wonder just how much noise and wind resistance an open sidewall design such as the Air-Free Concept generates. While opening the tire’s internal construction to view makes sense in the education-oriented Air-Free Concept, practicality says the internal spoke construction will be sealed by a veneer of sidewall rubber should such a tire construction reach the mainstream. Bridgestone says it might be, but isn’t talking about a timetable yet.

Seems the idea might have serious consequences for the aftermarket wheel business too.