> Unlike past attempts at airless tires, Uptis functions the way other modern tires do and, Michelin claims, will provide a similar driving experience.
And I doubt Michelin is leaving this up to "crackpot inventors".
As someone with a degree of practical expertise in Tires both automotive and cycling, who has seen this idea come and go a lot of times, I too remain fairly confident this tire will be fairly terrible compared to pneumatic tires, and useful only in fringe use cases where getting flats is a serious problem.
Because the wheel and tire would both be constructed out of fiberglass webbing, it seems like this could potentially reduce weight.
But whether it provides enough durability, traction, and a smooth riding experience is unclear. I'm rooting for them. Michelin definitely aren't crackpots.
> Unlike past attempts at airless tires, Uptis functions the way other modern tires do and, Michelin claims, will provide a similar driving experience.
And I doubt Michelin is leaving this up to "crackpot inventors".