Thumbs-up for Michelin Uptis following public trial

The prototype Uptis airless tyre fitted to the Mini Electric at this month’s IAA Mobility 2021 was “unanimously approved,” says Michelin. This lofty claim is hard to verify, however, the French firm does provide some evidence in a short video featuring automotive influencer Mr JWW and enigmatic car enthusiast Gercollector.

Mr JWW, UK-based car enthusiast James William Walker, commented that the biggest compliment he could give Uptis is “that if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know.” He continues: “When you see it from the outside, the structure of the tyre, you think there’s no way this thing is going to drive the same as a conventional tyre, and lo and behold…it actually does.” Gercollector called Uptis “really impressive” and confirmed that the “comfort was amazing” and the steering direct.

Michelin Uptis drove on public roads for the first time during IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich. Cyrille Roget, the Michelin Group’s technical and scientific communications director, comments that “our greatest satisfaction came at the end of the demonstration when our passengers said they felt no difference compared with conventional tyres.”

The structure of Uptis, which is capable of supporting the vehicle, eliminates the need for air while delivering a safe, comfortable ride. Michelin says it “remains on course” to bring the first Uptis tyre to market in 2024, and by doing so will play a part in reducing 200 million tyres that are currently unnecessarily scrapped each year as a result of rapid pressure loss or irregular wear caused by under- or over-inflation.