Kumho Tire has received the International Forum Design Award 2021(iF Design Award 2021) in the transport device discipline for two of its products.

Two Kumho products received the award this year: the e-NIMF (eco-friendly, no-inflation, maintenance-free tire), an airless concept tire that contains future-oriented technology, and the e-TOPS (eco-friendly, topology-optimized, and punctureless tire), a hybrid tire. In line with a rapid transition toward smart mobility.

A non-pneumatic tire that is not supported by air pressure, the e-NIMF is targeted at the future car market. 

Currently, pneumatic tires are the dominant type of product in the market. However, if a pneumatic tire loses air because of a puncture caused by foreign matter, the flat tire cannot withstand the weight of the car, makes it impossible for the vehicle to continue driving, and increases the risk of a fatal accident.

Designed to address these issues, an airless tire consists of spokes that remove the need for air, a shear band that sends the force created to the road, and a tread that contacts the road surface.

Their eco-friendliness comes from the fact that they are flat-free and can be used almost permanently by simply replacing the tread. 

The spoke structure, a key element of the e-NIMF that was developed through computer simulations, offers structural stability that ensures performance levels that match conventional pneumatic tires.

The e-TOPS has the potential to be used for autonomous cars. Its upper part consists of spokes and a tread that touches the road to prevent foreign matter from causing air loss, while its lower part contains some air inside. 

“Our two winning entries of the iF Design Award also received the IDEA Design Award last year. I believe these feats are a testament to our future-oriented design and technological capabilities,” said Cho Man-sik, a head of R&D Center at Kumho Tire.