This year's Paris Motor Show saw the unveiling of a tire that doesn't need air to work.
The prototype of the Air Free Tire, developed by Bridgestone, doesn't use air like traditional tires do, and instead uses shock-absorbing resin bands that look like thick, angled spokes, according to CNET.
The auto and truck parts manufacturer coated the tire with a tread made of a thin band of solid rubber. Drivers will be able to replace the tread when the time comes.
Olivier Monbet, head of Bridgestone's technical department in France and Benelux, said the purpose of creating the Air Free Tire is to provide more tires that can be used again, CNET reported.
"Every part of this tire is recyclable," Monbet said.
The Air Free Tire follows three years after Bridgestone introduced the airless tire, of which the new prototype serves as an improvement. The company said the new tire can handle heat buildup much better than the original could, which makes the company satisfied with the tire's ability to absorb shocks. Monbet said a new rubber part can be fitted on the tire to replace a worn-out one by heating it up and slipping it on.
He said Bridgestone will now focus on making the tire less stiff, which can have a negative effect on the car when the driver steers, CNET reported. The company looks to develop new prototypes over the next two to four years and use small Toyota single-passenger electric cars in Tokyo to test them.
While the cost of the Air Free Tire has yet to be revealed, Monbet said the price "will decrease as we increase production."
