Hankook introduces i-Flex airless tires, tested on Hyundai’s concept car that looks quite luxurious

Anyone who has ever had to change a tire in the face of force majeure will have to admit that it is frustrating. Of course they also want a tire that never punctures and is durable enough.

Hankook worked to make such a future a reality. At the recent CES 2022 exhibition, the company introduced the latest version of the i-Flex concept tire without using air.

Hankook teamed up with fellow automaker Hyundai and tested them on four Plug & Drive (PnD) modules on the L7 model. It was a concept car with infinite wheel rotation allowing it to change direction instantly, even in confined spaces. Although not designed for cars, it is designed specifically for such applications.

With a diameter of 400 mm and a width of 105 mm, the concept of a pneumatic tire (NPT) was developed based on research and biosimulation testing to maximize impact absorption and load capacity.

The result is an interlocking multilayer design inspired by the cellular structure of living organisms, providing support in three dimensions for stronger impact absorption, while the hexagonal spokes structure The triangles and quadrilaterals have different stiffnesses to provide stability.

The tires also take into account the L7’s ability to maneuver in tight spaces and turn freely. In which, the c-shaped concave tire is designed to ensure maximum contact surface with the road surface to improve safety.

In the past, there have been many accidents caused by sudden tire bursts or punctures. But Hankook stressed that problem won’t happen with airless tires. Not to mention airless tires require less maintenance, no need to monitor tire pressure or inflate, making them ideal for autonomous vehicles.

Unfortunately, Hankook has not given a specific commercialization timeline for this tire model. The company said it is continuing to research, develop and improve this tire model. There are also companies like Michelin and Goodyear working on similar models of airless tires.

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