Meet Michelin’s 3D-Printed Concept Tire

Michelin recently introduced VISION, a concept tire that is airless, connected, rechargeable, customizable and organic. It’s also both a wheel and a tire.

It was under the leadership of the Michelin Corporate Innovation Board (CIB) that the VISION project was launched in Autumn 2016. The CIB’s road map was simple: imagine an object that symbolized the mobility of the future, packed with converging technologies and which offers significant environmental performance.

The VISION is the result.

(Image courtesy of Michelin.)

The materials used in the tire are both bio-sourced and biodegradable, minimized the tire’s environmental footprint.

VISION is also the world’s first tire that can be rebuilt. With the aid of 3D printers, it is possible to use just the right amount of rubber on the tire and thus extend its life depending on needs.

The tread design is optimized and its depth is reduced in order to reduce its thickness and make the tire more efficient in terms of materials.

(Image courtesy of Michelin.)

VISION also does away with air, relying instead on an interior architecture capable of supporting the vehicle, ensuring the solidity of the wheel and guaranteeing comfort and safety. As a result, VISION can neither explode nor blowout. Equipped with sensors, VISION also provides real time information about its condition.

The concept was revealed at Michelin’s Movin’On 2017, an international summit on sustainable mobility.

For more concept tires, check out Goodyear’s concepts for autonomous vehicles.