Durable steel wheels could replace rubber tires on large, heavy mining vehicles

Amazing stuff! What about our cars? Too many pavement repairs? 😊

"For nearly a decade, a Phoenix, Arizona-based outfit has been working on a smart replacement for the giant rubber tires that go on heavy mining vehicles – think haul trucks, excavators, and bulldozers that can weigh dozens of tons. The descriptively named company, Global Air Cylinder Wheels (GACW), is inching towards a commercial launch of its airless wheels, and it might be on to something big.

The trouble with rubber tires, especially on heavy vehicles that operate in harsh conditions, is that they wear out quickly. In the case of working mining vehicles, that means replacing tires every 6-9 months, and GACW estimates this can work out to as much as US$7 million in tire costs for a single mining truck over its lifetime. ..."

Airless wheels for mining trucks promise big savings

GACW says its Air Suspension Wheels can last as long as the vehicles they're fitted on, and save up to 60 percent of what you'd spend refitting tires on them over that time

"Air Suspension Wheels®: Designed to last as long as the vehicle"