Uptis: Puncture-Proof Airless Tires That Are Literally Indestructible

By: | June 14th, 2019

Image courtesy Michelin

Believe it or not! Keeping a spare tire, emergency jack, and flat-tire repair kit are going to be the things of the past.

In a big breakthrough, General Motors (GM) and Michelin have unveiled a prototype of ‘Uptis’ (Unique Puncture-proof Tire System) which is expected to make its way to the customers as soon as 2024.

Unlike conventional rubber tires, the airless technology Uptis eliminates the risk of blow-outs and flats. With Uptis, one need not to bother about the tasks like carrying out regular maintenance, including puncture inspections and pressure checks… making Uptis perfect for the futuristic vehicles like self-driving shuttles to all-electric vehicles.

Florent Menegaux, chief executive officer for Michelin group, said, “Uptis demonstrates that Michelin’s vision for a future of sustainable mobility is clearly an achievable dream.”

“Through work with strategic partners like GM, who share our ambitions for transforming mobility, we can seize the future today.”

These tires are good for our environment

This airless mobility technology will help in reducing number of tires that are condemned to scrap. As these tires will be airless, it won’t involve any wear and tear from under or over inflation. Because of this, Uptis tires will have longer life and hence will reduce overall raw materials and energy used in tire production.

Nidhi Goyal

Nidhi is a gold medalist Post Graduate in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

More articles from Industry Tap...