Army Testing the Future of Off-Roading Tires?

[John M BUNMAN]

I can’t wait until they are available for the Raptor!! (Just kidding, but I can always hope that they will come up with some shoes that won’t cost me $1500.00 every 40k miles )

Soldiers might never have another flat tire with these ‘Tweels’

Testers took the new design to the jungles of South America for a spin.

www.armytimes.com

 

[PorterW1111]

These have been around for quite some time. You can get them for a lot of commercial equipment. Horrible for the general consumer industry as they have an exponentially higher lifespan.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

These have been around for quite some time. You can get them for a lot of commercial equipment. Horrible for the general consumer industry as they have an exponentially higher lifespan.

Really bad for people selling air, lol

 

[PorterW1111]

Really bad for people selling air, lol

Haha bottled air eh? Now that’s a new industry for you, “covid free air” bahaha

pretty sure there is a Dr.Seuss book on that

 

[MurderedOutSVT]

Haha bottled air eh? Now that’s a new industry for you, “covid free air” bahaha

pretty sure there is a Dr.Seuss book on that

One air, two air , red air, no 'rona air?

 

[MurderedOutSVT]

These have been around for quite some time. You can get them for a lot of commercial equipment. Horrible for the general consumer industry as they have an exponentially higher lifespan.

I see a lot of those on zero turn mowers

 

[melvimbe]

No way these show up on Raptors, not close to their current state anyway. Article said nothing about what sort of weight load they could handle or the speed rating...but the fact that they are testing on a Polaris instead of a heavier vehicle says a lot. Of course, they did say that it's a very uncomfortable ride.

Wondering if there is much point of using shocks on this, since it seems the 'tire' gives before the shocks. Perhaps if you've compressed the tire to the point where all the tire material is compacted to the wheel...then the shocks would be useful.

 

[John M BUNMAN]

No way these show up on Raptors, not close to their current state anyway. Article said nothing about what sort of weight load they could handle or the speed rating...but the fact that they are testing on a Polaris instead of a heavier vehicle says a lot. Of course, they did say that it's a very uncomfortable ride.

Wondering if there is much point of using shocks on this, since it seems the 'tire' gives before the shocks. Perhaps if you've compressed the tire to the point where all the tire material is compacted to the wheel...then the shocks would be useful.

All good points. I did see them somewhere before on a larger vehicle. They are definitely not speed rated. It would probably be a miserable road ride.
By the time you add 4-Operators, Delta. Seal, Ranger, SF or PJ’s and their kits I’m sure the Polaris will be exceeding its weight capacity lol.
I’m thinking their main goal is durability in several operational environments. Those boys can’t afford a mission delay due to tire failure.
Maybe a smaller run flat like what’s on the Hummers?

 

[John M BUNMAN]

These have been around for quite some time. You can get them for a lot of commercial equipment. Horrible for the general consumer industry as they have an exponentially higher lifespan.

Ok, now I’m reminded where I’ve seen them I think. Do some folks put them on Bobcats or something similar?

 

[melvimbe]

All good points. I did see them somewhere before on a larger vehicle. They are definitely not speed rated. It would probably be a miserable road ride.
By the time you add 4-Operators, Delta. Seal, Ranger, SF or PJ’s and their kits I’m sure the Polaris will be exceeding its weight capacity lol.
I’m thinking their main goal is durability in several operational environments. Those boys can’t afford a mission delay due to tire failure.
Maybe a smaller run flat like what’s on the Hummers?

I know nothing about Army operating procedures, but assuming this is trustworthy, perhaps they would put a 4 man team on two vehicles, or something of that nature.

Seems like it would be rather difficult to find material that has similar mechanical properties to compressed air, but not actually be a gas or liquid. Only a completely solid setup would avoid the issues they are trying to eliminate. Of course, a track system does that.

Would it make sense to have a pretty much solid rubber tire with a rather sturdy shock setup to smooth out the ride and reduce damage to the tire? I guess no, since that's not an offered solution.