Next Generation Bolt to Have Airless Tires

Michelin

Airless tires could be coming to General Motors vehicles in the near future. GM appears to be working with Michelin, the tire manufacturer, to develop airless tires that will be sold on a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt electric car. The partnership is meant to address an annoying part of owning a car: refilling your tires with air. To learn more, visit Gordon Chevy Jacksonville now!

What is Known So Far 

GM is keeping the development of airless tires pretty secret. However, one Michelin executive said the airless tires are being developed for a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV, which is expected to go on sale in the next few years. Meanwhile, GM has not yet confirmed it is working on a new Bolt model. It’s not unlikely, though, because GM has touted its move to an all-electric future with a wide variety of electric vehicles. The airless tires have been tested on current-generation Bolt vehicles, so GM may make them available regardless of the availability of new Bolt EV. 

Michelin Hints at the Partnership 

On the new Chevrolet Bolt tires, Alexis Garcin, president of Michelin North America, said, “We want to bring the next generation of the Chevrolet Bolt with airless tires and it’s going to happen now in the next three to five years.” 

Garcin isn’t being shy about the possibility of airless tires. Keep an eye out for airless tires for cars to hit the market in the near future. 

Why Airless Tires are a Big Deal 

Tires filled with pressurized air come with many drawbacks. Air can easily leak out of tires. Because tires are so vulnerable to punctures, leaking air can spell disaster when this happens. While tires have become more reliable over time, losing air pressure in tires still happens frequently and the accompanying dangers are still just as bad. 

With Michelin airless tires, however, flexible ribs provide a sort of spring action, roughly the same way air does in a pneumatic tire. This means punctures to the tire tread won’t matter. The sides of airless tires are completely open, so you won’t have to worry about your tires causing mayhem out on the road. 

Michelin

Reinventing the Wheel 

Literally. Michelin and GM are developing a brand-new type of tire specially created to make driving safer and lower maintenance costs. The new design is called the Uptis. It combines the look of Michelin’s X Tweel, which is used on lawnmowers and similar off-road equipment like ATVs, with a different construction made specially for passenger vehicles. It features central ribs to hold up the exterior of the wheel, and they’re made rubber reinforced with resin-injected fiberglass. 

Visit Gordon Chevrolet!

Looking for a Chevrolet dealer near me? At Gordon Chevy, we have a great selection of new and used cars Jacksonville, FL. Our sales staff is eager to help you find the model that you will love. Experience what sets us apart from other Orange Park car dealerships—we promise to deliver customer service that satisfies all of your automotive needs. Visit our Chevy dealership to learn more about the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt electric car and its airless tires!