The thicker the rubber, the more cushion is provided to the suspension. Ask off-roaders and people who remember the time when you put some sidewall on your rolling stock instead of some rubber-band looking straps that are at their maximum stretching point. A good set of 60-series tires on some deep 15 inch wheels used to be the way to go and for good reason…on asphalt, on gravel, on dirt and, as my own personal experience has taught me, through heavy underbrush, there’s nothing better with the possible exception of tank treads. But sometimes you have to get more creative. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and go straight for the chunky, fluffy off-road tire. Or do you?
We’re back in Russia and back with Vlad and Garage 54 to try out another not-exactly-great idea: can you completely replace the tire altogether? Using a Lada 2102 station wagon, the rear tires are ditched in favor of cut-up coil springs welded to a steel wheel. At first glance, you’d think that you would immediately rattle your teeth out while driving around, and on asphalt, you probably would. But what about a rutted dirt road, where things are already going to be pretty bad? Honestly, there might be some merit to this test. The ends of the springs will dig in and on a rough and muddy surface, these wheels might actually be…decent? Click play below to see for yourself!
Funnily enough the Moon Rover had tyres that were essentially springs – so maybe this idea needs proper research and development by qualified engineers. Anyway that’s me vodka finished and I’m to drunk to go out and buy some more…
Airless tires are springs with rubber tread rapped around.
https://youtu.be/cqbCFL6RRdM