Rhinotire Promises No More Flats
Tim Esterdahl | Aug 23, 2012 | Comments 3
Seems like every few months we come across another new product intended to stop flat tires. This time it is Hungarian engineers who have perfected a product that they say will prevent flat tires AND boost fuel economy by 10 percent PLUS make those tires last 25-percent longer with less tire noise.
With a unique polymer layer, Rhinotire promises flats can largely be avoided plus you can get better MPGs and less road vibration.
How does this amazing product work? Apparently, Rhinotire is the name of a product/process that puts a unique polymer coating inside the tire. This special coating is the result of 10 years of reasearch and development to find just the right material. Originally meant to just stop tires from going flat, tests soon revelead that it could have other benefits as well.
According to a story on MotorAuthority.com, when the tire is sealed it can reduce pressure loss. Having a more full tire means that you are more likely to get higher MPGs (or closer to the EPA estimates).
Also, Rhinotire’s American Distributor Kevin Fields says that the product will keep “tire tread cooloer (an important consideration for running at high speed) and reduce both noise and vibration.” The product does add about a pound of weight to each tire, but that isn’t a big deal for many vehicles.
It remains to be seen whether this product will catch on since to have Rhinotire applied to a tire means the work must be done at a New Jersey facility. Also, each tire application runs between $75-100.
Fields says that a “major international tire maker” is looking to start using the product and we could see a version soon.
What do you think? Are you excited to see a product to help stop flats or does the additional expense/weight make you skeptical?
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Filed Under: Auto News
The only place this will have an impact is with options like the RAV4 sport where they replace the spare tire with run flat tires.
Bead leaks from road salt corrosion on aluminum wheels are at least as common as punctures in the Northeast and this won’t help those at all.
Not at $75 to $100 a tire. Tires for the Tundra are approximately $200, add another $100 and that’s getting pretty expensive. Perhaps if I had really deep pockets, like that Romney dude, I wouldn’t give the extra expense a second thought. So, at that price point, looks like it’s destin for luxury cars.
eh, I’m still waiting on airless tires to come to the market.