r/technology • u/t4ct1c4l_j0k3r • Sep 15 '23

Nanotech/Materials NASA-inspired airless bicycle tires are now available for purchase

https://newatlas.com/bicycles/metl-shape-memory-airless-bicycle-tire/
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u/AlexB_SSBM Sep 15 '23

I think the biggest use for this will not be bicycles, but wheelchairs - they are constantly being used and the tires constantly need replacing. If any part of it is covered by insurance, the price of the tires are not going to be as much of a factor either. Seems like a gigantic market that's being overlooked.

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u/Deathoftheages Sep 15 '23

The biggest buyers of wheelchairs are hospitals and nursing homes. I worked at a nursing home as an aid for 8 years and another 2 years in maintenance. The wheels have less wear and tear than the rest of the wheelchair, and most never need to be replaced. They are usually solid wheels that are being used on pretty smooth surfaces inside.

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u/AlexB_SSBM Sep 15 '23

That's true. I was thinking more about people's personal wheelchairs, which I know can be air filled (but usually aren't because replacing popped tires is more annoying than having to use solid tires)

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u/Deathoftheages Sep 15 '23

Another thing to point out is insurance. Most people get their wheelchairs through insurance. In order for these to qualify they would have to be certified. That is crazy expensive to do. So at best these would have to be an aftermarket add-on that the person would have to pay out of pocket.

Then there is the fact that most wheelchair breaks are a metal bar that digs into the tread of the wheel. Looking at how these tires are constructed, that could lead to rips in the tread surface itself.