"Airless Tires Released" Hankook Tire Unveils at CES 2022

Participated in US CES to Showcase Airless Tire 'i-Flex'

Hankook Tire's airless tire 'i-Flex'

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) announced on the 5th that it will showcase its airless tire 'i-Flex' at 'CES 2022,' the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition held in Las Vegas, USA.

The i-Flex is a futuristic concept airless tire designed by mimicking biological structures, developed in a 10-inch size with a diameter of 400 mm and a width of 105 mm.

Unlike conventional tires, it contains no air inside, ensuring safety from accidents caused by punctures, and does not require maintenance for proper air pressure, making it optimized for autonomous mobility.

The i-Flex was created through various biomimetic studies to achieve the shock absorption and load-bearing performance necessary during driving. It features a 'Multi-layer interlocking spoke' design inspired by the cellular structure of living organisms.

The multi-layer interlocking spoke structurally models the cellular structure of organisms in three dimensions to absorb shocks generated from the road surface during driving. Additionally, the cell structures in hexagonal and quadrangular shapes with different stiffness are organically interlocked to provide more stable load support.

In particular, a C-shaped concave profile was applied to secure a maximized contact area for stable driving. Furthermore, the tread (the tire's contact surface) also features a cell structure pattern optimized for autonomous turning driving.

Meanwhile, Hankook Tire explained that it will showcase the i-Flex at Hyundai Motor Company's exhibition booth.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.