Uncle Sam to Benefit from New Cooper Tire JV

Efforts on the part of Cooper Tire & Rubber to develop custom tyre solutions have resulted in a joint development agreement with Resilient Technologies, LLC to produce a prototype of a new, state-of-the-art, non-pneumatic military tyre.

The US military currently serves in numerous locales, and during its operations a growing number of army vehicles have become disabled through flat or punctured tyres, leaving occupants vulnerable to attack. To remedy this potentially lethal scenario, Resilient has been working on a bullet and shrapnel resistant non-pneumatic tyre (NPT) for more than two years. Cooper Tire now brings its design, manufacturing, testing and performance expertise to this project. These attributes, coupled with Resilient Technologies’ experience with unique, engineered, advanced polymer products, are expected to pave the way for a revolutionary new product for the military. The NPT provides better mobility, range, functionality and reliability and requires less maintenance than a standard military HMMWV (Humvee) run-flat tyre.

“We value the opportunity to work with Resilient Technologies on a project that directly helps save the lives of US military personnel,” said Chuck Yurkovich, vice president of Global Technology for Cooper Tire. “The initial field tests, at speeds up to 55 mph, have reinforced that we’re on the right path regarding the tyre’s structure and composition.”

The airless tyre abandons the traditional tyre and rim design for a structure comprised of a unique rim, honeycomb and tread package, thereby eliminating the need for the cavity that typically retains air, as in found in a traditional tyre. The honeycomb design allows bullets and shrapnel to move through the tyre without disabling it. In fact, the NPT will continue to run even if a substantial portion of the honeycomb cells have been disabled.

“Cooper Tire’s expertise in tire manufacturing, testing and innovation uniquely complement Resilient’s expertise in polymer-based engineering,” said Edward Hall, vice president of Business Affairs and general counsel for Resilient Technologies. “We are pleased to work with Cooper Tire in our efforts to safeguard those who protect our freedoms.”

In its current design, the NPT is lighter than a traditional Humvee run-flat tyre, does not require as much oil to manufacture and is fully retreadable. After additional testing, Cooper Tire and Resilient Technologies will deliver prototypes to the US Army for use on military Humvees.

Under the agreement, Cooper Tire and Resilient Technologies will introduce the NPT technology to commercial markets. “The strategy is to investigate how pieces of this technology could apply to advances on other vehicle platforms,” added Yurkovich. “There are a lot of potential consumer benefits with a non-pneumatic tyre and we’re looking forward to assessing the practicality of implementation in our markets.”