Although it does not seem, the tires have been experiencing a transformation over time. New technologies allowed increasingly noble, efficient and resistant products; to the point that some already work without air or are anti -infincial.
But there is also another category, which are Another planet. This type of tire has nothing to do with anything we know; They are not rubber or have conventional bearing band.
These concepts, such as Bridgestone lunar rover, are designed for lunar vehicles and are from steel. It is the closest thing to a tire without a roof or if analogy is allowed, to an apple slicer.
This is because the rubber is not really resistant in the harsh lunar conditions; It is very susceptible to extreme temperatures and ultraviolet rays, abundant on the moon. Even if the rubber compound did not deteriorate, it would be excessively heavy and inflexible.
After research and development work (R&D) and different validation tests in environments similar to the lunar surface, it was determined that materials such as rubber and resin experience significant changes and degrade quickly.
The second generation of Bridgestone lunar rover tires are made of metal with a structure designed for the durability and traction demands of an extreme environment, with lack of atmosphere, exposure to high radiation and a large amplitude of temperature.
This tire incorporates new generation “Air Free” technology that includes flexible and thin support structures, and a bearing band divided into the rotation direction to support a soil composed of rocks and sand.
This, added to the flexion and decrease in the voltage located in the rays, allows better traction and displacement capacity by increasing the contact area and reducing the sinking thanks to the divided bearing band.
In 2024, Bridgestone was associated with Astrobotic Technology to create tires used by vehicles the size of a kitchen (known as rotove), designed for operations on the lunar surface.
Bridgestone’s innovations, perfected in extreme conditions such as motoring, will play a key role in the advancement of mobility on the moon.
In a press release, the company said that “in the future it will continue its trajectory to develop tires that can be customized according to the needs of each client or mission, supporting the security, tranquility and challenge of humanity in lunar development from scratch.”