Bridgestone's second-gen airless tire prototype (pictures)
Bridgestone is developing tires that use slanted resin spokes instead of a cushion of air to absorb shocks. Here's what the company showed at the Paris Motor Show.
Stephen Shankland
Air Free's slanted spokes
Bridgestone showed off a second-generation prototype of its Air Free tire at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The company is developing tires that use slanted resin spokes instead of a cushion of air to absorb shocks.
Bridgestone Air Free tires
The outside of the airless tire is coated with a replaceable tread made of a thin band of solid rubber.
Bridgestone Air Free concept tire
When the rubber part of the tire wears out, a new one can be fitted by heating it up and slipping it on, says Olivier Monbet, leader of Bridgestone's technical department for France and Benelux.
These small Toyota electric vehicles in Tokyo will be used to test Bridgestone's Air Free concept tire. This one was shown at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.