Airless Tire Technology – Phase II

NCMS Project #: 142014

Problem: Currently, pneumatic tires have an inherent potential for air loss resulting in immobility of the vehicle and potential loss of control of the vehicle jeopardizing the safety of the operator, surrounding vehicles, and the general public.  High maintenance costs and significant vehicle maintenance downtime are the result of conventional pneumatic tires.  In order to keep commerce moving in a timely manner, ensuring a more consistent and improved flow of goods and services while reducing transportation costs to end consumers, a better solution is needed.

Benefit: Understanding and documenting the parameters for airless tire technology development will allow for scalable development for current vehicle sustainment platforms used by the general public, commercial industry and DOD to provide improved maintenance and sustainment cost solutions.

Solution/Approach: Phase I focused on the development of airless tire technology that is capable and scalable to bridge the performance gap inherent in airless tires at higher vehicle loads and operating speedsThe scope of the Phase II effort is to test the prototype tires built in Phase I on-vehicle at the Tropic Regions Test Center (TRTC) in Suriname and use that report to inform a final tire design. 

Impact on Warfighter:

  • Reduce overall maintenance costs
  • Increase safety
  • Decrease CO2 emissions and carbon footprint
  • Improve warfighter readiness and lethality

DOD Participation:

  • U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) Special Systems and Component Engineering

Industry Participation:

  • Michelin
  • NCMS

Benefit Area(s):

  • Cost savings
  • Maintenance avoidance and reliability
  • Positive environmental impact
  • Safety
  • Improved readiness
  • Durability
  • Reliability improvement

Focus Area:

  • Reliability improvement