Getting a flat can be a real hassle, especially if you’re in hostile territory taking enemy fire. But now Resilient Technologies has developed a new Non-Pneumatic Tire that uses a rubber honeycombed structure instead of air pressure to keep vehicles supported. The current Humvee setup uses traditional pneumatic tires with a run-flat donut insert. If the tire is punctured by a bullet or road-side bomb, the truck will be able to limp away but only at a top speed of 30 mphs and for a distance of about 30 miles.

The new Resilient NPT will never go flat and can be driven at any speed. They are also virtually the same in weight as a traditional tire, and have a 100,000 mile life span before they need to be retreaded.  Resilient Technologies is looking to bring this technology to the military first, but if the concept takes off commercial variation may soon become available. Which is good, because we’ve been waiting forever for Michelin‘s problem-prone “Tweel” to be released.

[ Via Core 77]