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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.

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Stephen Shankland
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1 of 4 Stephen Shankland/CNET

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.

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2 of 4 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Bridgestone Air Free tires

The outside of the airless tire is coated with a replaceable tread made of a thin band of solid rubber.

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3 of 4 Stephen Shankland/CNET

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.

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4 of 4 Stephen Shankland/CNET

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.

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