Imagine that you are driving your car on a highway and suddenly you hear a loud bang. Unfortunately, it is a tire explosion! This situation has been experienced by millions of drivers around the world and is one of the most serious causes of accidents, but what if we told you that there are new tires that do not explode no matter what happens?
Yes, we are talking about “airless tires”, or what is known as airless tires ()).
This amazing innovation is not just an idea on paper. It is a reality that major international companies such as Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear are working on. As this technology gradually enters the market, we may witness a real revolution in the world of cars and transportation.
What are these tires? How do they work? Can we soon see them on our roads in the Kingdom and the Arab world? Let's dive into the details.
What are airless tires?
Airless tires, or anaerobic tires, are a new type of tire that relies on a rigid or mesh internal structure instead of air pressure to maintain shape and flexibility, meaning that they do not require inflation and are therefore resistant to punctures and explosions.
- Traditional frame:
It relies on internal air pressure to maintain its shape, and any small hole may lead to an explosion.
- Anaerobic framework:
It is based on an innovative engineering design (often in the form of a flexible network) and is therefore not affected by holes and does not lose its balance easily.
Airless tires are the new generation of tires, with a flexible mesh design that completely dispenses with air, making them resistant to punctures and explosions and safer on the roads.
How do these tires work?
Anaerobic tires work through an internal design that looks like “beehives” or “mesh wheels”. This structure allows the tire to press and bounce when faced with bumps or potholes, just like an air-filled tire does, but without any risk of loss of pressure. The most prominent models that have emerged are:
- Michelin Tweel:
The mesh frame is used in agricultural and military equipment, and has proven highly efficient in difficult environments.
- Bridgestone Air-Free Concept:
It is based on a reinforced plastic radial design, which gives the frame flexibility and stability.
- Goodyear ReCharge:
An experimental frame whose rubber material is reshaped by 3D printing using sustainable materials.
The expected advantages of airless tires:
Before we review these advantages in detail, it is important to realize that innovation in the world of tires is not limited to shape or design only, but to direct benefits for the driver.
Anaerobic tires are found to solve chronic problems that drivers have suffered from for decades, such as the risk of explosion, high maintenance costs, and negative environmental impacts.
Therefore, looking at these advantages is not a luxury. It is a vision of a safer and more sustainable driving future. These tires will help achieve the following:
- Eliminating the explosion problem:
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 11,000 accidents per year are caused by tire-related problems, and with anaerobic tires, this risk should disappear almost completely.
- LONGER LIFE AND LOWER COST:
Michelin reports that anaerobic tires can live up to 30% longer than traditional tires because they are not subject to wear caused by unbalanced pressure.
- Environmentally friendly:
Thanks to the possibility of recycling and reducing the need to replace tires frequently, this technology contributes to reducing rubber waste, which is estimated at more than 1 billion tires consumed annually around the world.
- Stable performance:
Traditional tires are affected by seasonal changes (expansion in summer and contraction in winter) while anaerobic tires maintain constant pressure and stable performance in different conditions.
Anaerobic tires are expected to radically transform the world of driving, thanks to their long life, stable performance, and ability to almost completely eliminate the risk of explosion.
Challenges and barriers that may face this industry:
Before we talk about the obstacles that stand in the way of this innovation, we should remember that any new technology goes through a long phase of experimentation and development before it reaches drivers. Although the idea of anaerobic tires seems perfect on paper, the road to its widespread adoption is full of technical and practical challenges that cannot be ignored, These barriers include the following:
- High cost: They are still much more expensive than traditional tires.
- weight: Its solid design makes it relatively heavier.
- COMFORT: It has not yet reached the same level of comfort and softness offered by traditional tires.
- High speeds: Tests still show that these tires need to be upgraded to withstand speeds of over 200 km/h.
Studies and statistics on the future of this technology
First of all, it is important to realize that the future of anaerobic tires is not based on theoretical expectations only, but on real data and accurate analysis of the global market. These studies give us a clearer view of the seriousness of companies in adopting this innovation and the extent of change that may occur in the tire industry in the coming years.
- In a report issued by MarketsandMarkets in 2024, it was predicted that the size of the anaerobic tire market will reach $60 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 5.9%.
- According to the Michelin study, good tire maintenance reduces accidents by 30%, making anaerobic tires a candidate to reduce this percentage further.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also indicated that high-quality tires reduce fuel consumption by 4-6%, which can be enhanced by this technology.
The experiences of international companies:
It is useful to know that innovation is not just an idea in laboratories; it is being tested in real fields and on various compounds. Here are the efforts of international companies that have put their money and experience in order to turn this idea into reality. This idea has been applied in several fields:
- Michelin Tweel:
Currently used in tractors, heavy equipment and military robots, it has proven very successful in difficult environments.
- Bridgestone Air-Free:
It has been applied to bicycles and some small cars in Japan as an experimental phase.
- Goodyear:
I developed a tire that can automatically repair itself using triple-printed rubber materials.
What does this mean for the average driver?
Before we get into the details, it is important to put ourselves in the shoes of the average driver looking for safety, comfort and cost savings. What is the benefit of all these innovations if they do not directly affect his daily life? We will review the most important benefits that every driver will feel when using anaerobic tires.
- HIGHER SAFETY: You'll no longer have to worry about a tire bursting on the highway.
- Lower cost in the long run: Longer life and lower maintenance.
- SUSTAINABILITY: It contributes to reducing environmental pollution.
- Saving fuel: Thanks to maintaining a constant pressure and reducing rolling resistance.
The role of Darbek in innovation:
Here, a very important question arises: What about the Kingdom? Darbek, which received the Saudi Quality Mark, has proven its commitment to safety and performance in the most difficult climatic conditions. With the rapid global developments, Darbek seeks to adopt the latest innovations that suit the environment of the Kingdom and the Gulf. Since this technology is not available today, we have worked with a clear vision in order to avoid all previous problems and achieve the same efficiency achieved by anaerobic tires. And remember that...
- Your trail tires are designed to withstand high temperatures and rough roads.
- Full compliance with the standards of the Saudi quality mark SASO, which reduces faults by 40%.
- The possibility of integrating future technologies such as anaerobic tires into the next production lines, to offer the Saudi driver an option that combines safety, quality and innovation.
Just as Darbek was the first to receive the Saudi Quality Mark, it may also be the first to offer this future technology to drivers in the region.
With a Saudi vision that keeps pace with the future, Darbek continues to be committed to safety and quality, and seeks to adopt anaerobic tire technologies to give Saudi drivers performance beyond expectations even in the most difficult conditions.
In conclusion...
Tires are not just rubber rings that wrap around the wheels. They are the first line of defense for your life on the road. With the creation of anaerobic tires, we may be facing a future free of explosion accidents and rapid wear.
Although this technology is still in its infancy, drivers in the Kingdom and the Arab world may soon see it thanks to leading companies such as Darbek, which not only provide quality today, but also plan for a safer and more sustainable future.
With your driveway... the future starts at the wheel of your car.
