Bridgestone Airless Bicycle Tires

Every bicycle has some kind of spokes in the wheel and it was generally understood that they stopped at the tires. Now, to create their air-free tires, Japanese company Bridgestone has extended the spoke concept to include the tires as well. Using their patented air-free concept, something the company originally invented for car tires, Bridgestone used a thermoplastic resin to build a unique tire for the urban commuter. Besides never needing to be refilled, one of the main benefits of the tire is its energy efficiency. Because the tire doesn’t change its shape as you ride, as an air-filled tire would, it means less energy is lost in the ride, saving the rider some effort while not substantially changing the traditional biking experience. Bridgestone hopes to have the tire in widespread production by 2019, meaning any two-wheeled commuters could be riding around on these futuristic looking things inside two years.