MICHELIN UPTIS
a puncture-proof tyre prototype
Unveiled for the first time in 2019 at the Movin'On sustainable mobility summit, MICHELIN UPTIS (Unique Puncture-Proof Tyre System)(1) eliminates the risk of flats and rapid pressure loss and reduces environmental impact.
It represents a new generation of airless solutions and is an example of Michelin’s expertise in high-tech materials.
The MICHELIN UPTIS prototype is an assembled airless solution (tyre and wheel) for passenger cars. It reduces the risk of flat tyres and other air loss failures that result from punctures or road hazards. It offers many advantages:
The MICHELIN UPTIS prototype represents a major advancement toward achieving MICHELIN’s VISION concept, which includes four pillars of innovation: airless, connected, 3D-printed and 100% sustainable (renewable and bio-sourced).
MICHELIN UPTIS is the first of a new generation of airless solutions, supported through:
Through MICHELIN's expertise in high-tech materials, MICHELIN UPTIS is a significant development in existing airless mobility technology. MICHELIN UPTIS eliminates the need for pressure checks and reduces the need for other routine maintenance, making it ideal for self-driving vehicles and passenger car fleets.
General Motors, a major global OEM and valued partner to MICHELIN, has signed a joint research agreement as a co-development partner, with the breakthrough goal of making MICHELIN UPTIS a mainstream reality on passenger vehicles as early as mid-decade. Also, MICHELIN UPTIS is chosen by DHL to be fitted to nearly 50 delivery vehicles in Singapore by end 2023.
MICHELIN UPTIS's revolutionary design and materials will yield sustainability benefits, such as reducing the number of tyres that are condemned to scrap and reducing overall raw materials and energy used in tyre production.
DID YOU KNOW? Every year, up to 20%(2) of tyres are discarded as scrap due to flats and rapid pressure loss (12%) or irregular wear and tear caused by poor tyre pressure (8%), i.e., the equivalent of 200 million tyres, or 2 million tonnes. That’s 200 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. MICHELIN UPTIS fixes that problem with its airless design.
MICHELIN UPTIS is designed to withstand the weight and speeds of passenger vehicles and is especially well-suited to fleets and new forms of mobility (C.A.S.E.: Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric vehicles).
The MICHELIN UPTIS prototype is a combination of rubber, aluminum for the wheel and a flexible load-bearing structure made from glass fiber reinforced plastic: a product of Michelin’s expertise in high-tech materials.
MICHELIN UPTIS is perfectly suited to the needs of passenger cars and delivers all the performance qualities associated with a Michelin tyre.
MICHELIN's airless innovation is taking its first steps on the last mile delivery market.
It will be fitted to nearly 50 DHL delivery vehicles in Singapore by end 2023.
Mr. JWW and Gercollector, two automotive youtubers, were able to test MICHELIN UPTIS in real-life conditions on public roads at the 2021 Munich Motor Show.
"Can’t wait to see it roll out on cars ", "amazing comfort": the MICHELIN UPTIS prototype fulfilled its contract.
We lead the way in the tyre category by investing around and beyond tyres in innovative products and solutions. (3)
Our tyres are trusted by the most demanding - consumers, manufacturers, motorsports players and key opinion leaders ask for our products.
We are at the forefront of electric mobility. Our engineers work closely with car, scooter & bike manufacturers to design tyres with performance that matter to electric vehicles owners.
LEGAL MENTIONS
(1) UPTIS: Unique Puncture-proof Tyre System, an airless tyre developed in association with Maxion, the supplier of a specific rim for the UPTIS tyre
(2) In-house “scrapyard” survey (2012-2015) based on a sample of 135,000 tyres and extrapolated on a global scale (estimates indicate that one billion end-of-life tyres are discarded each year).
(3) Find out more on https://www.michelin.com/en/sustainable-development-mobility/for-the-planet/environmental-approach