Bridgestone starts practical use of airless tires

After 18 years of development and testing, Bridgestone begins practical use of tires with airless construction, and for now, it's not about passenger cars, but tires will be installed on low-speed electric vehicles with autonomous driving systems like golf carts, used as public transport in mountainous and rural areas on Japanese roads. For several years, Bridgestone's AirFree non-pneumatic tires have been tested on electric vehicles in several municipalities in Japan, and for the first time, they will be used in practice as part of the regular operation of transport in the city of Higashiomi (Shiga Prefecture).

The Bridgestone AirFree design consists of a frame made of thermoplastic resin and a rubber tread, and unlike conventional tires, it does not require inflation, which means there is no risk of puncture. The roads will use third-generation tires, initially focused on use on compact electric vehicles designed to help solve transportation problems in Japan.

The thermoplastic resin from which the AirFree frame is made can be melted and recycled, and the tread is designed to be restorable, which reduces the environmental impact. At the same time, the blue color of the spokes was chosen because, as Bridgestone says, it is well visible even in twilight, i.e., in low visibility conditions.

Tires with a tread designed for summer operation will be installed on electric vehicles in Higashiomi, but the introduction of an all-season version is also being considered. The company notes that they do not currently plan to create tires that can be converted from summer to all-season when the tread is restored, but they are ready to develop AirFree for year-round use if there is a corresponding demand.

Bridgestone also points out that in the mountainous areas near Higashiomi, the proportion of elderly residents can exceed 60% of the population, and the lack of people to ensure the operation of transport is becoming a serious social problem, and tires that do not require pressure checks and are not afraid of punctures will simplify the use of electric unmanned vehicles.

"I'm seeing airless tires for the first time, and I have very high expectations for their effectiveness," said Mayor Masakio Ogura. "I hope our project will become an example and contribute to the development of public transport in the country. The city will support this initiative to make this type of transport more efficient."