Air Fom develops airless tire bicycle tires using Covestro PU

LEVERKUSEN, Germany—Air Fom wants to make sure your next bike ride doesn't fall flat.

The Taiwanese tire manufacturer has developed a solution for deflated tires, using thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) from Covestro A.G. to produce airless bicycle tires.

Air Fom uses particle foam casting to manufacture a multi-layer foam insert. Expanded TPU is molded into the specified shape "and exhibits precisely the desired properties on the rim," the company said in a July 2 statement.

"The tire insert is just as lightweight and elastic as an air-filled tire," the company said. "It can be fitted quickly and firmly on standard rims, is maintenance-free and, most importantly, recyclable—unlike the butyl rubber tubes that are used in conventional tires."

Solid rubber tires have been on the market for years, but like other puncture-proof products, they are expensive and don't produce the "light driving feel" of air-filled tires, the company noted.

"Compared to previous solutions, Air Fom's tire inserts offer clear advantages," the company said.

The patented tire has been confirmed by the independent ACT Lab L.L.C. to meet the latest safety requirements for bicycles and won the 2020 Edison Award in the transportation/personal mobility category.