"Anti-pothole" rims: here are Michelin's amazing wheels

Michelin has unveiled the first flexible rims on the market, a technology that reduces the negative impact that potholes have on your car’s wheels.

As they say, there are two types of drivers. Those who have already seen their rims or tyres damaged after hitting a pothole, and those who have not yet done so (but sooner or later will). Can you imagine your car’s rims not breaking when hitting one of those potholes you hate so much? Thanks to Michelin, your dreams come true… The tyre manufacturer has developed, together with Maxion Wheels, the ACORUS technology, a flexible composite that eliminates the negative impact that potholes have on your car’s wheels.

Risks of having a conventional wheel when hitting a pothole

Low-profile rims and tyres are especially susceptible to damage from potholes. If your car has this kind of wheel, you should know the risks you take when hitting a pothole. One of the most significant dangers is financial: replacing a tyre is not cheap, and even less so a rim (in some cases they can be repaired, but not in all). But the most relevant risk is undoubtedly safety: potholes can cause internal damage to the tyre (not always visible) that affects its lifespan and performance.

How Michelin ACORUS works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=31&v=h7UOUCV5qZA

Michelin ACORUS wheels consist of a special rim that incorporates two flexible rubber flanges, two components responsible for absorbing impacts. The system is compatible with any tyre on the market. What changes in the ACORUS is the dimensions of the rim, which are narrower to make room for the flanges and for an insert that gives the whole assembly a better appearance.

In tests carried out by Michelin, the strength of a conventional compound was tested against the ACORUS. The result was quite surprising: a tyre sized 285/30-21 on conventional rims burst at 28 km/h when hitting a pothole 80 mm deep and 700 mm long. In the same pothole, the Michelin ACORUS suffered no damage at any speed.

Advantages of Michelin’s flexible rims

Besides the obvious protection against potholes, ACORUS offers many other advantages, such as: protecting the suspension of the vehicle (the rim absorbs the first impact, taking work off the shock absorbers), reducing noise, increasing ride comfort, being better for the environment (they extend the tyre replacement interval), and reducing the total weight of the wheels.

We still don’t know when this revolutionary technology will reach the market, but it seems that in the future Michelin ACORUS could be offered as standard by some manufacturers on their cars with 19-inch rims. We will keep you informed of all the news about these flexible rims.