Keywords
Spokes
finite element analysis
Hybrid Tire
Non-Pneumatic Tires
How to Cite
Abstract
Non-Pneumatic Tires, or airless tires, are load-bearing tires that do not require air pressure for that purpose they employ flexible spokes made of thermoplastic Polyurethane. NPTs are characterized by elastic spokes, durability, and resistance to wear, which makes them quite preferable for military, defense, industrial, and space vehicle applications. However, they are somewhat limited in their ability to absorb shocks and comfort, thus limiting their application in commercial vehicles. Hybrid tires provide a solution that unites the merits of NPTs and conventional pneumatic tires. They consist of flexible spokes together with pressurized air, thus giving them properties from both sides-NPTs durability and comfort of a conventional tire. This study is highly focused and presents a comparison of NPTs and hybrid tires. Finite Element Analysis of both models indicates that with respect to strength and comfort, hybrid tires fare very well for civilian vehicles, though their strength may be slightly less than that of NPTs.
References
Dunlop, J. B. (1888). Pneumatic tire. UK Patent No. 10,607.
Mohan, A., Johny, C. A., Tamilarasu, A., Bhasker, J. P., & Ravi, K. (2017). Design and analysis of non-pneumatic tyre. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 263, 062061. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/263/6/062061
Ali, M., Maarij, M., & Hussain, A. (2022). Design and structural analysis of non-pneumatic tyres for different structures of polyurethane spokes. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 69(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-022-00093-5
Mazur, V. (2018). Experimental research in automobile non-pneumatic tire force heterogeneity. MATEC Web of Conferences, 224, 02019. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201822402019
Deng, Y., Wang, Z., Shen, H., Gong, J., & Xiao, Z. (2023). A comprehensive review on non-pneumatic tyre research. Materials & Design, 227, 111742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2023.111742
iF Design. (n.d.). E-Tops hybrid tire. iF Design Award. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/e-tops-hybrid-tire/308635
Sardinha, M., Vaz, M. F., Ramos, T. R., & Reis, L. (2023). Design, properties, and applications of non-pneumatic tires: A review. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part L: Journal of Materials Design and Applications, 237(11), 2277–2297. https://doi.org/10.1177/14644207231177302
Genovese, A., Garofano, D., Sakhnevych, A., Timpone, F., & Farroni, F. (2021). Static and dynamic analysis of non-pneumatic tires based on experimental and numerical methods. Applied Sciences, 11(23), 11232. https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311232
Cho, J. R., Lee, H. W., Jeong, W. B., Jeong, K. M., & Kim, K. W. (2007). Finite element analysis of contact pressure and deformation of a pneumatic tire. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, 21(12–13), 1247–1262. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502280701471566
Korunovic N, Trajanovic M, Stojkovic M (2007) Fea of tyres subjected to static loading. J Serb Soc Comput Mech 1:87–98
Behroozinia, P., Taheri, S., & Sandu, C. (2018). Tire carcass effect on tire–terrain interaction using finite element analysis. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 20(8), 911–925. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2018.1475664
Zhang, X., Liu, C., Liu, G., & Zhao, J. (2011). Optimization design of non-pneumatic tire structure based on finite element method. Materials & Design, 32(10), 4982–4989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2011.05.055
Rugsaj, R., & Suvanjumrat, C. (2018). Determination of material property for Non-Pneumatic tire spokes by inverse method. Key Engineering Materials, 777, 411–415. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.777.411
Jackowski, J., Żmuda, M., Wieczorek, M., & Zuska, A. (2021). Quasi-static research of ATV/UTV non-pneumatic tires. Energies, 14(20), 6557. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206557
Zhu, L., Xu, T., Liu, X., Wu, M., Zhou, X., & Gao, F. (2023). Test and simulation study on the static load and pure longitudinal slip characteristics of a non-pneumatic tire. Machines, 11(1), 86. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines11010086
Żmuda, M., & Jackowski, J. (2025). The review of selected Non-Pneumatic tires Properties—Load Carrying Mechanism, Structure of Non-Pneumatic Tires. Materials, 18(7), 1566. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071566
Zhao, Y., Du, X., Lin, F., Wang, Q., & Fu, H. (2018). Static stiffness characteristics of a new non-pneumatic tire with different hinge structure and distribution. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 32(7), 3057–3064. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-0608-8
Romano, L., Sakhnevych, A., Strano, S., & Timpone, F. (2020). A hybrid tyre model for in-plane dynamics. Vehicle System Dynamics, 58(7), 1123–1145. https://doi.org/10.1080/00423114.2019.1608365
Liu, W., Peeke, L. M., Periyasamy, M., Campbell, R. R., & Hickner, M. A. (2023a). Additive manufacturing of silicone composite structures with continuous carbon fiber reinforcement. Polymer Engineering and Science, 63(6), 1716–1724. https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.26318
Phromjan, J., & Suvanjumrat, C. (2022). Effects on spoke structure of non-pneumatic tires by finite element analysis. International Journal of Automotive Technology, 23(5), 1437–1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-022-0126-7
Zheng, Z., Rakheja, S., & Sedaghati, R. (2021). Multi-axis stiffness and road contact characteristics of honeycomb wheels: A parametric analysis using Taguchi method. Composite Structures, 279, 114735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.114735
Jackowski J, Żmuda M, Wieczorek M, Comparative analysis of small size non-pneumatic tires and pneumatic tires - radial stiffness and hysteresis, selected parameters of the contact patch. Eksploatacja i Niezawodnosc – Maintenance and Reliability 2023: 25(3) http://doi.org/10.17531/ein/167362
Kumho secures design award. (n.d.). Tire Technology International. Retrieved from https://www.tiretechnologyinternational.com/news/awards/kumho-secures-design-award.html
Zheng, Z., et al. (2022). Cornering stiffness characteristics of honeycomb wheels: Parametric analysis and response surface methodology. Composite Structures, 288, 115418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.115418
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shamsher Ali, Syed Aliyar Shah, Moiz Ahmad, Syed Muhammad Zain, Ahsan Rehman Khan