NASA's Airless Tires Are Coming to Bicycles in California

By Mara Anton

Posted on March 19, 2021

NASA’s rover technology might have been designed for Mars but it’s going to come down to Earth, too. More specifically, in cyclists’ homes in California, where SMART tire company plans to use them for the bicycles of tomorrow.

California-based startup SMART partnered up with the American Space Agency to use NASA’s airless tire technology in a consumer application. The shape memory alloy will be used for a new type of tire, one that never gets a flat, called METL™.

This type of tire will presumably be as strong as titanium but elastic like rubber. It will have perfect shape memory and even go easy on the environment. Thanks to its long-lasting materials, there won’t be as much of a need for rubber sidewalls and encasings.

“Shape memory alloys look extremely promising in revolutionizing the entire terrestrial tire industry,” said Santo Padula, who is a science engineer at NASA, “and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

When should cyclists expect to see it on the road?

SMART wants to make METL tires available next year for road, gravel, mountain, and e-bike use. In fact, they’re also working to bring this innovative technology to e-scooters through a partnership with Spin.

What do you think – are you gonna give these tires a chance?