Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospects

The emergence of airless, or non-pneumatic, tires as a modern alternative to pneumatic tires is a relatively recent area of research in the transportation field. In this paper, we examine the advantages driving the development of non-pneumatic tires, along with the challenges currently hindering the...

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Main Authors: Harri Hankin, Jessica Gagen, William Peters, Aimee Crann, Yao Chen, Samer Fares, Pooya Sareh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525003533
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author Harri Hankin
Jessica Gagen
William Peters
Aimee Crann
Yao Chen
Samer Fares
Pooya Sareh
author_facet Harri Hankin
Jessica Gagen
William Peters
Aimee Crann
Yao Chen
Samer Fares
Pooya Sareh
author_sort Harri Hankin
collection DOAJ
description The emergence of airless, or non-pneumatic, tires as a modern alternative to pneumatic tires is a relatively recent area of research in the transportation field. In this paper, we examine the advantages driving the development of non-pneumatic tires, along with the challenges currently hindering their widespread adoption. We will then establish a common structure for the modern non-pneumatic tire, dividing it into its key components. The conventional purpose, desirable characteristics, and impact of each component on overall tire performance will be derived from the literature, and the merits of recent developments in this field will be critically evaluated where appropriate. The discussion will primarily focus on the elastic support structure, the component that directly replaces air and has been the focal point of most research. The paper will conclude by consolidating the progress of each component, discussing their influence on the prospects of non-pneumatic tires, especially in new applications, and identifying areas for further research.
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series Materials & Design
spelling doaj-art-d16f0a143c7d45b8b64fcfe583fd2c5b2025-08-20T02:00:54ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-05-0125311393310.1016/j.matdes.2025.113933Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospectsHarri Hankin0Jessica Gagen1William Peters2Aimee Crann3Yao Chen4Samer Fares5Pooya Sareh6Creative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel), School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, United KingdomCreative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel), School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, United KingdomCreative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel), School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, United KingdomCreative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel), School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United KingdomSchool of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China; Corresponding authors.Creative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel), School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United KingdomCreative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel), School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, United Kingdom; Creative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel), School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom; School of Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2EU, United Kingdom; Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain; Corresponding authors.The emergence of airless, or non-pneumatic, tires as a modern alternative to pneumatic tires is a relatively recent area of research in the transportation field. In this paper, we examine the advantages driving the development of non-pneumatic tires, along with the challenges currently hindering their widespread adoption. We will then establish a common structure for the modern non-pneumatic tire, dividing it into its key components. The conventional purpose, desirable characteristics, and impact of each component on overall tire performance will be derived from the literature, and the merits of recent developments in this field will be critically evaluated where appropriate. The discussion will primarily focus on the elastic support structure, the component that directly replaces air and has been the focal point of most research. The paper will conclude by consolidating the progress of each component, discussing their influence on the prospects of non-pneumatic tires, especially in new applications, and identifying areas for further research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525003533Airless tireNon-pneumatic tire (NPT)Honeycomb structureMulti-terrain mobilityAuxetic metamaterial
spellingShingle Harri Hankin
Jessica Gagen
William Peters
Aimee Crann
Yao Chen
Samer Fares
Pooya Sareh
Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospects
Materials & Design
Airless tire
Non-pneumatic tire (NPT)
Honeycomb structure
Multi-terrain mobility
Auxetic metamaterial
title Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospects
title_full Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospects
title_fullStr Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospects
title_full_unstemmed Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospects
title_short Airless tires: Structural concepts, mechanical design, and application prospects
title_sort airless tires structural concepts mechanical design and application prospects
topic Airless tire
Non-pneumatic tire (NPT)
Honeycomb structure
Multi-terrain mobility
Auxetic metamaterial
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525003533
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