BT020/and a plug

[Harpo]

Rhino Tires applies a permanent gel inside the tire which is heated
and vulcanized onto the interior surface of the tire. You can puncture
the tire in several places and you don't lose any air. Watch this:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GScWPb8qcng"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GScWPb8qcng

Of course, the videographer should learn how to spell "recipe" one
of these days ..

So, why the hell can't Bridgestone or Michelin perfect this technique?
Why aren't Pirelli and Dunlop embracing this technology? Hmmm?
They want you to have to spend $180 every time you
run over a brad or shard, that's why!

 

[Shadowfax-ST]

Hmm. Rhino technology is inside the tyre and therefore unlikley to affect raylon side Walls and other stregthening strategies? You'd think the manufacturers would be falling over themselves to create such a range? I'm sure physics or other science prevents it, or maybe the consumer is known not to want to spend a premium on a tyre that could live 3-times as long in a form of 'brad' insurance?

I'm with Harpo. Who do we lobby?

.

 

[Harpo]

Doesn't look like it would add a lot of expense to the manufacturing of
the tire at all .. a coating sprayed inside and then baked into a lasting
bond. This really isn't rocket science .. nor is it a mystery why the
manufacturers aren't the ones pursuing the technology .. we all know
how motorcycle owners are getting the shaft from the market.

Not a niche market anymore, the motorcycle industry has grown to
such proportions that it's becoming mainstream as gas prices soar and
people discover the joy of riding. Once small businesses get this
gel coating down and begin treating tires, I hope the big dogs will be
forced to follow.

I also believe Bridgestone's internal ribbing was done just for the reason
I stated earlier: to frustrate any attempts to permanently repair punctures.

So I wish Rhino Tires good luck and hope they share the technology
with other companies to force the hands of Michelin, Pirelli, Dunlop,
Bridgestone, Avon, and others into producing a fairly-priced, safer
tire for motorcycles in the near future. Why should the smallest tires
be the most expensive?

This is something the AMA should be pouncing on, although I suspect
they're in the bag just like any other political organization.

 

[Shadowfax-ST]

AMA? Interesting, I put in a couple of searches for 'puncture' and 'tire' and retrived nothing.

I did find, however:

The solid (air-less) Michelin tyre:
http://www.tnn.co.uk/Technology/plonearticle.2004-12-14.8198992559

There's hope. Maybe one day. Just think of all the "Green" benefits, too.

(I Lust)

.

 

[MeanST]

John_Diego Westoc2009 bound. Brand new OEM BT020 (with less than a thousand miles) mounted the weekend before. Note the NEW plug!

John is not really that happy.


George supervising! John required a lot of attention on the way to Westoc.