Inspired by Bridgestone’s puncture-proof tyres, and Michelin’s Tweel, Hankook has decided that it wants to get into the next-generation tyre market with its own i-Flex. Like the previous creations from its competitors, Hankook’s tyre trades an air-filled bladder that’s prone to leaks and punctures for an engineered rubber framework that provides support and shock absorption.
With the i-Flex, a complex array of rubber cells lines the inside of the tyre. And since every bump is evenly distributed across this network of tiny shock absorbers, in theory the i-Flex tyres should provide an even comfier ride. The tyres are lighter too, improving a vehicle’s fuel efficiency, and they’re actually quieter than traditional designs. And if that wasn’t enough reason to hope these reach consumers, the unique design is also 95 per cent recyclable, so they’re better for the planet too. [Wired via Pocket-lint]