CAESAREA, Israel—Galileo Wheel Ltd., the maker of CupWheel technology for off-road tires, has launched SkidCup, an airless tire for skid steers and loaders.
The company claims it is the first major structural change in industrial tire design since the adoption of run-flat tires in the 1970s.
"Unlike conventional products that force operators to choose between solid tires' durability or pneumatic tires' shock absorption, SkidCup's patented air cavity design maintains full operational capabilities without inflation," the company said.
The technology eliminates puncture-related downtime while offering improved impact absorption and traction compared with both solid and pneumatic tires, with reduced shock and vibration transmission to both machinery components and operators, the company said.
"Fleet downtime costs can exceed $400 per vehicle daily, and with the tire industry remaining largely unchanged for decades, tire-related issues significantly compound these costs through punctures and machinery damage," CEO Armin Schon said.
"With SkidCup, we're not just introducing a new tire—we're reimagining what a tire can be. Our patented CupWheel technology represents a fundamental shift in tire design, marking a new era in industrial mobility solutions."
Galileo's CupWheel technology features a proprietary sidewall concave design, creating a non-pressurized air cavity that provides shock absorption and traction without vulnerability to punctures.
The development of SkidCup builds on Galileo Wheel's other tire lines, including the IrriCup tire for irrigation pivots.
"Traditional tire development has focused on incremental improvements in materials and tread patterns, resulting in slight performance gains," Avishay Novoplanski, Galileo Wheel CTO and co-founder said.
"We took a fundamentally different approach. By completely rethinking tire architecture, we've created a solution that transforms performance. The fact that we're achieving a 30-percent improvement in traction, compared to the industry standard 7- to 8-percent difference between basic and premium tires, demonstrates the revolutionary nature of our technology."
The launch follows Galileo Wheel's recent $8 million Series C funding round led by Stine Seed Farm, a major privately held U.S. seed company. The company has also secured investment from Marubeni Corp., a Japanese integrated trading and investment business.
Galileo Wheel's products are distributed through direct sales and dealer networks across the U.S., with expanding partnerships throughout Europe, Asia and South Africa.
Galileo Wheel, founded in 2011, develops and manufactures tire solutions for agricultural, construction and industrial applications, combining the advantages of radial off-road tires and rubber tracks on a standard rim. It has an office in Matthews, N.C.
