It was revealed at International Motor Show Germany

Teaming up with General Motors, Michelin has been crafting a more sustainable tire for our future called the Michelin Uptis.  

It was revealed at International Motor Show Germany, the world’s largest motor show, in 2021. The two companies are looking at a mass-market launch around 2024. 

Until then, what makes these tires so special?  

Uptis stands for unique puncture-proof tire system, and it speaks for itself.     

One of the more significant upsides to airless technology

Changing the formula for tires never seemed productive or necessary outside of specific cases. After all, why reinvent the wheel? 

In recent years, we have started to look at more things with a greener lens, and as it turns out, there are several benefits to switching to airless tires.  

For one, it will severely reduce maintenance, and it eliminates the need to upkeep air pressure.  

One of the more significant upsides to airless technology is that you need not worry about flat tires or blowouts.   

All those reasons also help the grander problem

Since Michelin seems intent on following the four Rs, reduce, reuse, recycle, and renew, the Uptis tires will be using a material that is environmentally friendly for their entire lifespan. 

All those reasons also help the grander problem of rubber tires being destined to a scrapyard or burned in a pile to create a cloud of CO2 to eat up the Ozone.  

All that while reducing overall raw materials and the energy needed to produce the tires.  

It’s quite the strategy and one we applaud.

And while airless tires are not anything new, we think it opens a discussion about what sort of things we should also be looking at to improve.  

What are your thoughts on airless tires? Do you have ideas on more things we could change? Do you think Michelin and GM have a promising idea here? 

So, head on down to the comments and let us know what you think! We would love to hear your feedback.  

Michelin Uptis Airless Puncture-Proof Tire Specs

Design: Michelin / General Motors 

Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France   

Price: TBA 

• Expected Production: 2024 

• Uptis: Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System 

• Tire: Airless 

• Maintenance: Minimizes Damages from Over/Under Inflation 

• Estimated 12% Reduction in Tire Waste from Flats 

• Potential 200 million Tires in Avoided Waste 

• Decreases Raw Materials and Energy Used in Production  

Features: 

• Passengers Feel No Difference in Comfort  

• Removes Maintenance of Air Pressure  

• Passed Safety Tests and Approved for Production 

• The First Success in Michelin’s Vision of Only Sustainable Materials