The idea is basically to reinforce a bike tyre with a single coil spring (with one end of the coil looped around the wheel to connect with the other end).
Yes, it'll be heavier and more expensive than a normal tire, but there's probably a market for it (be it for the indestructable townie or the ride-across-Antarctica pack-horse).
The coil would preferably be made of a light, resilient metal (e.g. titanium alloy).
A cool variation would be a rubber coated looped coil to entirely replace the tire all together.-- xaviergisz, Sep 04 2010 Time Traveller's Handbook of 1001 Tense Formations http://hitchhikers....01_Tense_FormationsEssential. [8th of 7, Sep 06 2010] Metl tire https://science.sla...s-are-now-availableAt the heart of each Metl tire is a Slinky-like spring that runs all the way around the tire. That spring is made of a shape memory nickel-titanium alloy known as NiTinol [xaviergisz, Sep 14 2023] The main weakness in a bicycle tyre is its resistance to being pierced by sharp things, and I don't see how this coil spring will help all that much with that.-- pocmloc, Sep 04 2010 Sorry, the description is a bit brief (I'm posting this from my phone). The coil is strong enough to support the weight of the bike and user if the tire is punctured.-- xaviergisz, Sep 04 2010 // titanium alloy //
Titanium's very stiff; old fashiond spring steel would be the thing.
Debatable whether the vulcanised rubber tyre carcass would have sufficent strength to stop the spring deforming; it would have to withstand not just the downforce of the bike and rider, but the circumfererntial force of propulsion (particularly the rear tyre).
[+] for a novel take on the problem.-- 8th of 7, Sep 04 2010 I like it.I wonder though if the slightly offset ridge of the coil will cause the bike to track to one side or the other.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 05 2010 a travel bun [+]-- FlyingToaster, Sep 05 2010 I remember reading in a Manning Coles / Tommy Hambledon book that a boy in WWII was using springs on his bike wheels as a substitute for rubber tyres. And I remember mentioning that on the HB before.
So this idea would probably work.-- baconbrain, Sep 05 2010 Do people make bike tyres from foamed rubber?-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 05 2010 They keep trying to, but the tyres are lousy.-- baconbrain, Sep 05 2010 Someone should develop an insecticide for Tyre Lice,then.-- 8th of 7, Sep 05 2010 Wait till they get crabs.-- neelandan, Sep 06 2010 I see no reason this would not work splendidly. <here's GROG now pondering double negatives> This idea reminds me of run flat tires, sort of, after a fashion, except entirely unlike. Anyway, bun's to you, [xavier], you got my vote. [+]-- Grogster, Sep 06 2010 //A cool variation would be a rubber coated looped coil...//
...that would pick up souvenirs from your travels...like interesting bits of gravel.-- ldischler, Sep 06 2010 // GROG now pondering double negatives //
Aren't you not quite sure that you haven't not wanted to not have not done that ?-- 8th of 7, Sep 06 2010 42.
(Dang, answer doesn't fit AGAIN...)-- Grogster, Sep 06 2010 Sorry, wrong Universe. Try the mice ..
(Dr. Dan Streetmentioner's book is still in print, if you can find the right epoch).
<link>
//interesting bits of gravel. //
Your words move us strangely, Earth Creature.-- 8th of 7, Sep 06 2010 The basic problem with foam tires is that a pneumatic tire cushions shocks with the whole volume of the tube, a foam tire cushions shocks with only the area immediately around the impact. This hurts performance and risks rim damage. (Much more expensive that tube replacement, trust me). This spring would have a similar problem, although the use of a spring in combination with air might improve on it, admittedly.
This would also be extremely heavy, with weight measured in kg instead of grams, which would make it impossible for racing. It might also produce a very weird ride feel, possibly including squirminess and traction loss, depending on how it deformed.
That being said, it might find a market in the commuting/utility bike market. However, I presently use Specialized Armadillos for that purpose, and they do extremely well, as do several other "puncture resistant" approaches, and I suspect the issues mention above would offset any additional advantages this approach would produce.-- MechE, Sep 07 2010 How much for the car version?-- Voice, Mar 19 2021 Well it won't go flat and has no tread to wear out if it's designed properly. I don't see why it couldn't last a relatively long time, maybe even half the life of a car.-- Voice, Mar 19 2021 [MechE] is right - this would be not as resistant to impact (potholes) as a rubber tyre inflated to high pressure, would have poor rolling resistance, would most likely feel very weird to ride and would be incredibly heavy. Also, modern puncture resistant tyres are very good - I use Continental Grand Prix 4 Seasons.-- hippo, Sep 15 2023 random, halfbakery