Akron, Ohio – A long-in-development technology with roots in the lunar lander program will finally go into production on a commercially available product. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plans to offer its first airless tires as an option on Bad Boy Mowers' Outlaw XP, a zero-turn radius model, with expected availability in early 2018.
"The commercial release of this turf tire is an important step in our efforts to develop airless tire technology for a range of applications," says Christopher Helsel, Goodyear's chief technology officer. "As we look to a future where ridesharing and autonomous vehicles become mainstream, the demand for lower maintenance, longer lasting tires will continue to increase."
Goodyear has been developing non-pneumatic technologies since the 1970s when it participated in the design of tires for NASA's Apollo lunar roving vehicle, and in recent years in the development of a tire for future missions to Mars. And it’s far from alone. Michelin and Bridgestone have shown variations on air-free tires for several years.
Michelin has been supplying a similar system for rear tires on John Deere mowers for several years.
Typically, the air-free systems call for a flexible, honeycomb-like interior covered by rubber tread. Rather than relying on a rubber bladder to absorb shock, the air-free tires allow the honeycomb structure to compress.
Goodyear’s TurfCommand with DuraWeb Technology is optional for the premium Bad Boy Mowers model. Goodyear engineers and scientists incorporated feedback from field studies that included the Cleveland Metro Parks and with mower dealers, such as Beltz Lawn and Garden Equipment in Akron, Ohio, and the team at Bad Boy Mowers to create a product for the benefit of the end-user.
The tire features a thermoplastic connecting structure that provides stiffness and flexibility. It is designed to deform, absorb impact, and create a smooth ride every time.
