The Future of Tyres and Wheels Is Here for UTV and ATV Drivers
Never heard of Michelin Tweel? Let me enlighten you. Tweel is a word that describes the latest development in tyre technology – a combination of tyre and wheel. It’s been a concept for a decade or more, during which time Michelin has been developing its version. Now, it is here. And it’s pretty darn good, and available for a variety of vehicles.
So, what exactly is the Michelin Tweel, and what vehicles can it be used on today?
The Michelin Tweel – Ten Years in the Making
For 10 years, the boffins at Michelin have been working on a dream concept tyre – the Michelin Tweel. The idea was simple: create a tyre that won’t deflate, build it into a wheel, and make the product flexible so that it provides a softer and more forgiving ride experience. A simple concept, yet hugely complex.
What Michelin was asking its research department to do was to create an all-in-one wheel and tyre that has the potential to revolutionise the driving experience. Imagine never needing to worry about a puncture again. Imagine a wheel that changes shape to the surface it is being driven on, at speed, and then springs back to its original shape when stationary. A shapeshifting wheel and tyre. That’s the Michelin Tweel.
Greater Grip Off-Road
If you drive a utility vehicle (UTV), you can fit it with Michelin Tweels now. You won’t need a system to maintain air pressure, because there is no air inside the Tweel.
Because the wheel deforms and reforms to the terrain you are driving on, you benefit from extra grip. A lot of extra grip. However, this doesn’t mean you can put your foot flat on the accelerator. The 26-inch radial Tweels have a maximum speed rating of 37 miles per hour.
How Does the Tweel Technology Work?
The Tweel is manufactured using poly-resin spokes that run the full width of the Tweel. These provide the give that allows flexibility to deform, while maintaining lateral stiffness. The result is a wheel that corners fantastically well and provides stability on hillsides – as well as the off-road grip I mentioned above. Here’s what you get from a Michelin Tweel, which, quite frankly, looks more like a jet turbine from the side than it does a wheel:
- Deep, open, aggressive tread that helps to clear mud while proving excellent traction and stability
- Four-bolt hub that fits many UTVs
- High-strength poly-resin spokes that dampen the ride and absorb impacts
For those who are tech minded, here’s a little of what Michelin has done:
- A proprietary Comp10 Cable forms a semi-rigid ‘shear beam’ – this allows the load to hang from the top
- Zero-degree belts provide the lateral stiffness, also helping to absorb impact
- The bolt hubs are made of heavy gauge steel
The result is a product that performs like a pneumatic tyre, but which improves mobility on the toughest of terrains. You’ll find that your UTV or ATV provides a more comfortable, responsive ride when it is fitted with Michelin Tweels and driven on a hostile surface.
Michelin Tweel Saves Space
The Michelin Tweel has other benefits, too. For example:
- You won’t interrupt your journey having to fix a flat
- No spare tyres are needed, and you can leave a whole bunch of tools behind
- You’ll be able to explore previously undriveable routes
- You won’t get so tired while driving, because of the smoother ride
Where Can You Buy a Michelin Tweel?
The future of tyres is Tweel, and, if you are an ATV or UTV driver, the future is now. Michelin Tweels are available for a range of vehicles, including several agricultural applications. Come and see the future of tyre and wheel technology at Darra Tyres. We are sure you’ll be sold on them.
Feel free to contact us to book an appointment to view the future.
Keeping your family and fleet safe on the road,
Dean Wood