Michelin has developed a new way to change a tire.
Its Vision concept is an airless ‘tweel’ made from 3D-printed bio-sourced materials that allow for new and different treads to be applied as they wear down or the seasons change.
Designed to mimic the structure of coral, it is stiff at the center and gets gradually softer as it approaches the outside edge.
With its “rechargeable” tread design, the thickness of the outside layer can be thinner than a typical tire’s, which makes it more efficient to produce and operate.