Berm Peak dude builds his own Airless 3D printed TPU tires

[bananu7]

With an airless setup you have more control over spring rate and damping

The tyre shape, profile, layup, material, different rubber mixes/densities etc. all contribute to the overall handling including the damping. A modern tyre is far from just being an air container.

Also, as far as the whole idea that air tyres rebound perfectly - I run mousse inserts in my rally motorcycle (I'm pretty sure jbjork also races his bike on mousses most of the time). The tyres do feel a bit more "dead", but whether this more to higher mass, higher damping or some other interaction, I'm not sure. Frankly, I prefer the feel of the air, but it's too risky for high speed offroad racing.

 

[scianiac]

All totally correct but there are limits. And I'm amazed and fascinated at the technology of modern tires. But for the same reason I want to see if they can be pushed farther. Making one's own tires is not exactly a DIY friendly process however.

One of the primary ways to control damping is to just make the sidewalls thicker but it seems to me the weight you need to add to do this you would get way more damping something inside the tire that is compressing more than flexing.

I'm glad just now we are seeing bike tire companies experiment with different layups like the "radial" tires we are now seeing but boy did it take them a long time.

Frankly, I prefer the feel of the air, but it's too risky for high speed offroad racing.

If you can I would be very interested in your subjective feelings in real conditions between the two. I know a mousse may even be on the extreme end of damping for some designs. My hybrid foam damping and air setup I quite like for my light vehicle weight but I can tell they are a bit more damped than just air but still have a fair bit of rebound.

 

[OlderGiantFan]

Hmmmm. I wonder how much power he's putting into those pedals? Looks like he's going hard hey. Perhaps it might open the door to e-hovers? For what practical purpose I can only imagine but it gets you thinking.

 

[2old]

From previous videos, he seems like a pretty good rider.