TireBalls Military Applications

The immobilization of a pneumatic wheeled vehicle from penetration of a tire by terrain or gunfire places human and hardware assets at serious risk. Runflat options for pneumatic wheeled vehicles therefore are of very significant value. It is imperative that the runflat option can be relied upon, but should not limit the vehicles performance and handling capabilities. Some current runflat structures add significant weight thereby reducing payload and offer no beneficial suspension performance characteristics. In fact when placed into service, some current runflat structures drastically reduce the vehicle’s suspension performance as well as reduce vehicle speed and range. Providing a reliable low weight multi-cell inflation system (MCIS) runflat option, which improves vehicle performance and handling, is what our product does. With the MCIS both compression and rebound damping are improved, occupant ride quality due to terrain is significantly enhanced and the total load deflection range capability of the tire is augmented. Also, from both an economic and logistical perspective the MCIS’s ability to remain in operation after multiple punctures saves troop down time (and lives) and the replacement cost of numerous tires.

What is a TireBalls MCIS Inflated tire?

An MCIS inflated tire is a conventional tire that is filled with cells designed to fill the cross-sectional space between the tire tread and rim, and sidewall to sidewall. Each cell is individual and independent of the others. Each cell is pressurized to an internal pressure nearly identical with typical tire inflation pressure for the tire and vehicle on which it is installed. The number of cells that fill a tire is a design parameter. For runflat applications more cells are typically used, thereby minimizing the effect of the loss of a single cell on the total tire performance. The cells do not fill 100% of the tire/rim void space, but typically 80-95%. There is a small amount of additional (interstitial) space between the tire/rim and the confined volume occupied by the MCIS cells. This interstitial space and inflation thereof is accessible through the traditional rim mounted inflation valve, and filled with air, up to standard operating pressure.

The patented Tire Ball^® Air Inflation System is comprised of multiple individually inflated, cells that fill the vast majority of the space within a tire. The Tire Ball® system is used in off road tires of ATVs, UTVs, light trucks, Dune Buggies, special purpose sedans, motorcycles and now HMMWV’s. The individual cells are made of a urethane material that is 10 times more puncture resistant than a typical heavy duty inner tube for motorcycles (up to 30x more in HMMWV cells).  Each Tire Ball has a valve similar to a sports ball and is inflated with a standard needle. The system offers virtual flat proofing, along with improved “ride” qualities such as: enhanced suspension, greater traction, better cornering, and quicker braking. A puncture of a single Tire Ball® cell allows the rider to continue riding/driving on 90-95% of air volume originally present in the tire. This small amount (5-10%) of air loss is truly unnoticeable to the rider/driver.

A major advantage for applications such as ATV/UTVs and Light Tactical Vehicles is you will eliminate rim to ground contact through the unique progressive increase in air pressure at the tire’s contact patch, enabled by the compartmentalization of air within the Tire Balls. These vehicles, which typically can run with lower tire pressures, can now possess great traction characteristics without the downside of bent rims and cut sidewalls which could flatten a tire.