Variable Stiffness Non-Pneumatic Tire for On-Highway and Off-Road Performance

Military non-pneumatic tires are typically used in environments where the tire is susceptible to hazards such as explosions, ballistics, and road debris because they can continue to function when pneumatic tires would have typically failed from loss of air pressure. However, by varying tire pressure, pneumatic tires have the benefit of offering functionality at sustained highway speeds on paved roads and good traction in off-road terrain. There is a need for a non-pneumatic tire that can offer similar stiffness variability while still able to withstand heavy damage. FlexSys has proposed a concept that meets these objectives with their Non-Pneumatic Adaptive Stiffness Tire (N-PAST). During off-road use, the FlexSys N-PAST will offer low stiffness functionality, which will increase the tires contact patch area, thus increasing the tires traction on loose soil, mud, sand, etc. Once the vehicle moves to on-highway travel, the N-PAST will allow the operator to increase the tires stiffness to provide a smooth, quiet, low rolling resistance ride. Such adaptive performance will revolutionize tire technology for military trucks and commercial construction equipment as the tire can adapt to on-highway and off-road conditions while still capable of withstanding significant damage before losing function.