Hi-tech Tweel Goes For A Spin

Tyre maker Michelin really has re-invented the wheel - and here's the proof. This isn't an ordinary Audi A4; look closely at the wheels and you'll see these are the first pictures of the 'revolutionary' Tweel - in action!

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Ross Pinnock

06th April 2005

It has the tyre and wheel all as one unit, and we first reported on the innovation after its world debut at the Paris Motor Show last September. Now, prototype versions of the puncture-proof set-up are being put through their paces. A Michelin spokesman explained: "The Tweel has gone from being a relatively minor project to a major one since the expo. We are looking at having it on passenger cars within 10 to 15 years."

The rubber spokes radiating from the hub provide cushioning over uneven surfaces - as on a normal tyre - but are said to offer improved handling and cornering, too. And the clever design also removes the worry of being left stranded by a puncture. The first vehicle to be equipped with the Tweel as standard is expected to be the iBOT - a futuristic motorised wheelchair due on sale within two years. Next up will be heavy industry applications, such as earth-movers and machinery used for road building. The innovation has also attracted interest from the military.