Get FinancingHankook Showcases Airless i-Flex Concept Tire At CES 2022
Hankook Tire, in cooperation with the Hyundai Motor Company, recently debuted the latest version of its airless i-Flex concept tire at CES 2022 in Las Vegas. CES is the world’s largest consumer technology event, where many of the world’s biggest manufacturers show off their latest products. The non-pneumatic tires have a biomimetic design for shock absorption and load-bearing capacity. The airless construction reduces maintenance costs and improves safety and is expected to be particularly advantageous in autonomous mobility. Hankook has been working on non-pneumatic tire technology since 2010.
Hyundai Plug & Drive
The i-Flex at CES 2022 was designed to work in conjunction with Hyundai Motor Company’s Plug & Drive Module, which the manufacturer showed for the first time at the show. The Plug & Drive Module uses robotics technology that enables the Mobility of Things, a system in which all objects are mobile. The tires were shown on Hyundai’s L7 micro-mobility concept vehicle with infinite wheel rotation capabilities.
About The i-Flex
The i-Flex has a compact 10-inch format with a diameter of 400 millimeters and width of 105 mm. The airless tire eliminates accidents caused by punctures for increased road safety and does not require air-pressure monitoring or refilling. A multi-layer interlocking spoke design, inspired by the cellular structure of living organisms, creates a three-dimensional cell for better shock absorption. Joining together hexagonal and tetragonal cell structures with different rigidities forms stable load support. A C-shaped concave tread profile maximises the contact patch for greater safety. The tread is designed for multidirectional vehicle movement and uses the honeycomb design of the tire body.
Source: Hankook Tire