Michelin and GM are developing airless tires for next-generation Bolt

The dream of airless tires has been around for decades, and it's easy to see why
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Airless tires mean no punctures and no annoying tire pressure warning lights
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Michelin has been working hard to make this dream a reality, and now, according to CNN, that reality is pretty close to being realized
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Specifically, Michelin has been working closely with General Motors to develop an airless tire that could appear on the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, expected to go on sale in the next few years
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The advantage of airless tires on electric vehicles is that they are always at the correct pressure to maximize their efficiency and reduce their rolling resistance
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Less rolling resistance means more range without the need to increase the battery and therefore the weight
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Alexis Garcin, president of Michelin North America, said: "We want to bring airless tires to the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, which will happen in the next three to five years
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GM hasn't confirmed it's working on a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, but its upcoming Ultium-powered electric car could be similar to the Bolt
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Michelin and General Motors have already tested airless tires on the current-generation Bolt, and the two companies have been open about it
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To replace conventional tires, the Michelin concept uses flexible ribs to provide structure to the tire, and the ribs provide a kind of spring action, roughly the same as the action of air in a pneumatic tire
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Michelin already sells an airless tire called the X Tweel
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The passenger car version Michelin is working on now is called the Uptis and has a different build, although it looks almost identical to the X Tweel
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For example, the central rib that supports it is made of rubber and reinforced with resin-infused fiberglass, while the X Tweel's ribs are made of polyurethane
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