DETROIT _ General Motors plans to give car buyers an airless tire on vehicles starting in 2024.
The automaker is teaming with Michelin and this week introduced the Michelin Uptis prototype at the Movin' On Summit for sustainability in Montreal. Uptis stands for Unique Puncture-proof Tire System, GM said.
GM will start real-world testing of the prototype tires later this year on a Michigan test fleet of the Chevrolet Bolt electric cars. A spokesperson for GM said the carmaker and Michelin will evaluate the Uptis prototype for other GM vehicles, and announce which other cars might get them at a later date.
GM said the airless technology means the prototype will not get flats or blowouts. In turn, that could mean less use of raw materials and waste, contributing to GM's refrain of its vision for a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.
The tires should also last longer than a regular tire, GM said, because it would eliminate irregular wear and tear caused by over- or underinflation.
The price for the tire is not set yet, GM said. The price will depend on application and volume, it said.
The tire is "a great example of how our customers benefit when we collaborate and innovate with our supplier partners," said Steve Kiefer, GM's senior vice president of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.
