New tire concept debuts at Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Aeeting.

Bridgestone Americas introduced an air free commercial truck tire concept for the heavy-duty trucking market at the 2020 Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Atlanta.

Designed to be used in high-speed, long-haul applications, this concept features tire tread that is placed on a structure of high-strength, flexible spokes, which eliminates the need for air pressure.

“Commercial fleets are increasingly looking for ways to maximize uptime and reduce emergency roadside events,” said Jon Kimpel, executive director, new mobility solution engineering, Bridgestone Americas. “As mobility advances, we see these sophisticated fleets turning to technology solutions and innovative products as a way to improve operations and drive profitability for their fleets. When tires don’t need to be filled with air, this essentially erases the downtime associated with a flat tire, improving safety and making mobility more efficient.” 

The initial design of the Bridgestone advanced air free commercial truck tire concept is intended for the trailer position. Bridgestone did not say if or when they will bring this tire to market.