Posted October 14, 2018.
Meet the “KiWieel” – our first demo model of the new non-pneumatic tire design. Finite element analysis shows it is good for 500+ MPH (800 km/h). 
Meeting a rubber manufacturer tomorrow that will help me find the best rubber compound, and I am very excited.
Note, the wheel section is obviously 3D printed plastic, but the rubber nubbies are the real deal (but perhaps not the final choice of exact polymer). The rubber nubbies were cast in a silicone mold, that in turn was cast using a 3D printed plug.
The “Re-inventing the wheel” project is my official research project as a lecturer at University of Auckland, and I super excited about this great opportunity to combine my passion and work.
#FlatOutIntoTheFuture
