http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tweel-airless-tire.htm

 

My father sent that to me in an email a week ago or so.

Pretty cool!

 

I still can't get past the looks of these things. I guess if they become a reality and they make my car handle better, I'll learn to like them.

 

Wow, that is ugly as hell. Interesting, but ugly.

 

these are just the prototype - they stated when they go into production the outside will be covered and look like a reg tire

this will put all those rim repair places out of work

 

I have seen the video on these. They are butt ugly, but do the job. Now, If they can get them to be performance tires that would be cool. But without the tread width of a performance tire, they will not do the job.
But as a winter tire, now that is a different story, who would worry about pot holes when your tire/rim would flex instead of ding, that might be a marketable arena.

They almost look like old buckboard wheels, instead of wood and steel, they are rubber and whatever.

 

The key point is that they can simulate a tire that has less air in it which results in a bigger contact patch, but at the same time, maintain or increase lateral stiffness.

And since these tires currently vibrate at over 50.....they would still make an interesting tire to use while auto-crossing.