Goodyear to Debut Airless Tyre in 2018

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has announced that it is planning to debut its first airless tyre, the non-pneumatic TurfCommand tire for commercial mowing applications in early 2018. The tyre is offered as an upgrade option on Bad Boy Mowers’ Outlaw XP.

Christopher Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer said that the company’s commercial release of the TurfCommand tyre marks an important step in its efforts to develop airless tire technology for a range of applications.

He added that with ridesharing and autonomous vehicles set to become mainstream in the future, it is expected that the demand for lower maintenance, longer lasting tires will continue to increase.

Goodyear has focusing on the development of non-pneumatic technologies right from the 1970s when it collaborated on the design of tires for NASA’s Apollo lunar roving vehicle. It had also collaborated recently on the development of a tire for future missions to Mars.

The TurfCommand tyre uses DuraWeb technology that Goodyear has been developing over the past few years. The tyre comprises a thermoplastic connecting structure with a unique combination of stiffness and flexibility that allows it to support heavy loads. At the same time, it can maintain a smooth ride and minimize turf tear. It was specially designed to deform, absorb impact, and provide a smooth ride. There will be no more flats or need for air pressure checks. Goodyear will be making the tyre in the United States for Bad Boy Mowers.

The commercial launch of the TurCommand tyre is part of Goodyear’s strategy to develop maintenance-free technologies for passenger and commercial vehicles.