Multinational tyre and rubber company Bridgestone Corporation has developed a next-generation bicycle tyre design that uses the “Air Free Concept” together with its subsidiary, Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd.The companies will advance feasibility studies seeking to make this new tyre available in market by 2019.
The “Air Free Concept” is a tyre production technology that uses a unique structure of spokes stretching along the inner sides of tyres to support the weight. This eliminates the need for tyres to be inflated with air. In addition, the resins that are used in the spokes and rubbers help realise more efficient use of resources.
Bridgestone Corporation and Bridgestone Cycle adapted the “Air Free Concept” to develop bicycle tyres without punctures. The high flexibility for design granted by resin has also enabled proposals of next-generation bicycles which have never been seen before.
The company said it also aims to propose new ways of cycling utilising the “Air Free Concept” while also adapting this technology to be used in various other types of tyres.