This is very interesting idea:

The Tweel

PAX is clearly a technology of today, already in OEM use. But at the Paris motor show, Michelin presented a tire technology of the future that could possibly reach consumers in 5-10 years. Called the Tweel (a combination of "tire" and "wheel"), it's a non-pneumatic tire and wheel formed as a single unit, featuring a replaceable rubber tread band that's bonded to an aluminum wheel hub via flexible polyurethane spokes. The spokes, tuned for each vehicle application, are chemically bonded to the aluminum hub for life. With no sidewalls to speak of, the Tweel certainly looks bizarre, but remember, there's no need for this tire to hold air.

Engineer Bart Thompson says the idea for the Tweel originated five years ago at Michelin in North America, when the company realized its zero-pressure tires could essentially go forever with reduced speed and loading. This posed the question: "Could Michelin make a non-pneumatic tire that actually does last forever?"

The Tweel attempts to answer that, and its advantages are many. First, flats obviously are a thing of the past. Second, the tread, reinforced with composites, is renewable, and it benefits from having homogeneous pressure distribution in its contact patch. Third, the Tweel has dramatically better hydroplane resistance because holes, for instance, can be integrated into the tread. And lastly, drivers will never have to worry about inflation pressures, or a slow leak, because Tweels are essentially maintenance-free.

Initial applications have been for low-speed vehicles such as golf carts, farm equipment and military vehicles, but Michelin has already been testing Tweels on a midsize car. For the record, the tire on display at the show, the same shown in the photo here, has a load rating of 1125 lb., and an assembly weight of 23 kilograms (50.7 lb.), which Michelin says is within 5 percent of the weight of a conventional wheel and tire of the same size.

At present, noise and ride quality are issues for passenger-car application of the Tweel, and there are other hurdles to clear, not the least of which is the infrastructure needed to change the tread bands. Nevertheless, the Tweel is fascinating technology, and Michelin is actively seeking niches for it right now.

 

Their nitch is Match Box Cars. Sorry guy, nice idea and certainly interesting. May come to fruition but not on my car for 2 reasons: 1) looks like a match Box Tire 2) It’s French

 

Alright already

I just thought it was interesting

 

Thanks for the info, hopefully that technology will make it to public roads.

 

What was more interesting was the rest of the article in R&T about the center ribbed Run Flats. Requires special bead & wheels.

 

Tire-wheel integration is the future but I really like the spherical tires.