G. David Felt

Very Cool, awesome what you did. Great that she has a loving home. Saw GM just posted this and so I figure I would upload it here from their global media web site. Great video on the Mid-Engine Corvette Convertible. Per GM's Press Release: The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible promises an exciting journey of unlimited possibilities. Corvette’s relentless pursuit of performance, technical ingenuity and attainability have made it an American icon through eight generations. The first-ever mid-engine and hardtop convertible from the nameplate has the same aeronautic design theme as the coupe, as well as exceptional storage capacity and track capability, making it a supercar for every day. The 6.2L LT2 Small Block V-8 engine and Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission combine for the most no-compromise Corvette convertible in history. Chevrolet-Corvette-Stingray-Convertible.mp4

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Reviews have shown people want cheap tires and a tire that does not go flat, plenty of stories on how people want less maintenance, that is the point. No I do not have run-flat tires on my SUVs and you know that cause the Michelin tires I have stated are not available in run-flat. Reviews and tire testing has shown the defender M/S tire to be one of the best and safest out there. Yup, Seattle does have a homeless problem, but that has nothing to do with this discussion. As a area that has high job growth, income growth you end up with more traffic and more people who seem to not take care of their auto's and then mix in debris from construction and boom, tire issues. I am grateful for the Midwest and the farmers but would never want to live there. Been there due to a ton of family that lives in Missouri and hate the heat on top of it being way too flat for my tastes and no skiing. Love my lifestyle here. Will retire and die here. Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tire Reviews | Mavis Discount Tire (mavistire.com) Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tire Reviews | Updated 2022 (worldtirereview.com) Michelin Defender LTX M/S Review: 2021 Analysis - Drive55 Michelin Defender LTX M/S Review - Truck Tire Reviews Michelin Defender LTX M/S [T] tire - Consumer Reports Michelin Defender LTX M/S| Tirebuyer For the most part, the buying public have rated these top tires and even professional reviews also have rated them at the top for a tire.

Seems according to Wiki that in 1938 a patent was given to J.V. Martin for airless tires. Airless tire - Wikipedia This story says Michelin has been working on the Uptis tire for the last 21 years. Airless tires get their public test drive (freethink.com) Course plenty of both no you do not and yes you do want this tech as here is another story on yes you want this tech. Airless tires: Why you'll want this game-changing technology - Roadshow (cnet.com) This might be the Story @balthazar is thinking of about airless tires. Popular Science - Google Books

Cool picture, thanks for posting had not seen this before. Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Does Michelin become a rim/tire provider for the auto OEM companies if they go this way? Seems Bridgestone is also targeting Airless tires for 2024/2025 on auto's. Airless Tires (bridgestonetire.com) Hankook Tire exhibits futuristic airless concept tire i-Flex at CES 2022 Seems there are 3 approaches to the airless tire that the tire industry is looking at: Bonded tires where they are chemically attached to a rim. Press on Tire, where the tire is stretched as it is pressed onto the rim. Segmented Tire considered the best where they have a series of bolts attaching to the rim. Rim is reusable when needed or changeable as the tire is bolted to the rim. Michelin is currently using a segmented approach for the tires, Hankook is using Press on Tire and Bridgestone is currently using Bonded.

I am going to agree to disagree. Cheap tire issue with low air pressure is a user issue, but also a cheap tire issue, any tire issue of flatness that can be resolved if the so-called airless tires are cost effective, perform right and resolves a failure point for people. Again, running over stuff is a user issue, but also an issue if you cannot afford a more durable tire that can handle road trash. I know not everyone can afford BF Goodrich tires that have Kevlar in the sidewall to be puncture resistant. If you have an airless tire like this, running over stuff that would cause not only a loss of air pressure but also tire damage that could possibly cause an accident is a safety benefit of the airless tire. Again, built in quantity so that price is low to be on all autos, but especially appliance type autos just improve safety and reliability for all. Yes, Yes, I do see plenty of people on the side of the freeway system here as I do the grocery shopping and deliver food, medicine, etc. to the grandparents and great grandparents on both side of the family that are staying as safe as possible due to Covid. Here we have a massive Lite Rail system being installed along I5 from Lynnwood Washington to Federal Way Washington. These 45 miles has terrible road debris from all the construction. Seems nails, screws, etc. are all over and as such I see plenty of Appliance Auto's alongside the road getting help due to tire issues. Probably a difference in regions, but the advertising here is always cheap tires mounted and balanced for $399. Considering how I view safety for my family and friends that ride with us in our auto's, I have never paid under a $1k for a complete set of tires. I do run Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires on all my auto's. They are expensive, but the safety is worth it to me. Quiet, solid dependable tires, better than the Bridgestone that used to be on my SUVs. End result is that if we could have a solid performing airless tire that could handle what would be possible tire damage to a traditional tire from road debris would be great to reduce auto's that end up causing traffic issues on the roads imho.

Yes, I love Star Trek, but I am a realist with a Positive glass half full attitude that we can eventually get people onto better technology that give a better quality of life. I leave the rich to buying up the initial early adoption stuff at crazy prices as I know I cannot afford it without saving for a long time. Yet that does not mean I do not desire driving a nice ride. I see plenty here that complain, make excuses and bitch about the good old days. You're welcome to them to live in the past. Life is about making things better, better quality for all. I see ways to merge the past with the future as to why I think restoring an older auto you love with a modern electric powertrain is a smart way to go. Yes like all things new, they are expensive and yet prices do come down as economy of scale kicks in. Perfect example is the cost of VHS and Beta players in their initial early years. DVD and Blu-ray in their early years, all new technology is expensive at first as companies work to recover the costs of R&D. That does not make it wrong or bad. The consumers will eventually choose what they want and hopefully with proper information, the consumer will understand the benefits of moving forward with new technology. Currently it seems there are plenty of positives for buying EV over ICE based on studies of owners and non-owners. What makes people buy a Tesla? Not CEO Elon Musk's popularity, says survey (hindustantimes.com) Survey Reveals The Main Reason People Buy A Tesla (and It's Not Elon) (drive.com.au)

And you're missing the point, eventually prices come down and the appliance auto buyers do get the low maintenance items they desire. I totally know that an appliance buyer will not pay $1,000 for tires. I get it, I see these people all the time buy those cheap $400 advertised tires, do nothing and then cry when one blows out due to low air pressure, potholes taking out the tire, running over stuff in the road and not even trying to avoid it. These lemmings cause plenty of problems and so if they can be moved onto a product that does not have them being s lane blocking disabled auto, then better for it.

Here ya go, lots of good coverage for free on Ford and GM cracking down on Dealers. About time I say!!! Ford and GM Warn Dealers to Stop Charging So Much for New Cars | The New York Ledger (thenyledger.com) Ford CEO Farley cracking down hard on $3.6 billion dealer markups | Fox Business Ford and GM Warn Dealers to Stop Charging So Much for New Cars - News Nation USA Ford, GM are cracking down on dealers for inflating prices (msn.com) Ford CEO Jim Farley Fights ‘Unreasonable’ Dealer Markups | The Drive

Yes, they are expensive, I never said they were cheap. I was only talking about weight as an example. Quantity of scale is not there to bring the prices down yet. The Video of this guy shows he is anything but tech friendly and clearly set in old man's ways of not learning anything new. Yup let him have his ICE, Future and Technology is not him. Let's be honest, ICE was just as confusing and had haters and resistant users in the early days too. Why replace a Horse, easier to use, handle and deal with than a complicated ICE auto?

The next few decades will be interesting for sure in the auto world.

@balthazar Some good points you bring up. Course if Michelin is able to bring high strength Plastic to the rim portion, we could like the Ford Carbon Fiber Rims see a low weight. Current aluminum rims average 33lbs compared to Fords Carbon Fiber rims @ 18lbs each. If they can product this airless tire with the rim and keep it at half the weight of the Aluminum or steel rim, then I see no issue with unsprung weight. They seem to be on track per their web site to have them on multiple OEM autos in 2024. IAA Munich: Michelin’s view of tomorrow’s mobility – Michelin So, in reading more, it appears that GM is vested in these tires with Michelin, and they will be rolled out on a series of BEVs starting in 2024 with GM and other OEMs. Airless – Michelin Quote from their web site: The UPTIS prototype will be fitted to a fleet of vehicles in Las Vegas, where it will be tested for two years through intensive use in real-world conditions. The fleet was chosen because it met the testing requirement of vehicles with high daily mileage, exposed to high-temperature driving conditions. This development phase comes on top of the tests initiated several months ago in Greenville, South Carolina. Fitting prototypes to vehicles for real-world testing is the final test round to which Michelin tires are regularly subjected. The data collected by engineers during this period will enable them to perfect the prototype in preparation for its market launch. The tires are fitted onto Aluminum rims, so it would appear that you can have your OEM rims with these tires. Re-watching and he shoots his own reasons for failing by pointing out the continual improvements in tire technology that has allowed autos to improve decade over decade. His UNSPRUNG Weight is an Excuse as I see it to say that the new tech is not as good as the old tech. Interesting is how he is focused on generation one that did have its own rim built into the tire. Yet Michelin own web site states the tires can go onto aluminum rims. He constantly talks about Racing and how they are an unknown quantity. He makes some very good points, will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I do like the one point he is clear on and Michelin website I had to go into the small details which was the ability to put on a new tread once the wheels were worn out. Great reduction in waste.

Another night of work, Imagin Dragons to the rescue.

@riviera74@oldshurst442 @balthazar I totally understand what you all say, but I can honestly see these being a big hit with much of the appliance auto buyers. Hell, my own sisters are perfect candidates. I have never known woman who have run flat and shredded so many tires. Our dad who owned a repair shop always told us you as the driver and auto owner have a responsibility to check your auto for safety. Check the tires to ensure they are all filled properly, a quick visual check to see that none are low on air. End of fall before going into winter check the air pressure, same with the spring check again to ensure you run at the right PSI. Pay attention to the sounds your auto make, dad always pointed out about noises from brakes, water pump, etc. Yet both my sisters seem to be clueless and ignore what goes on with their auto's. Lucky they do buy the road hazard insurance as they both have used them multiple times. With my oldest sister who is also a in home nurse that focuses on open sores healthcare, she is on the road 30K miles a year. I am amazed at how many times she has picked up nails, bolts, etc. in her tires. These airless tires are perfect for her to not have to worry about a flat. On the opposite side, I wonder how you would recycle a tire like this? Considering how GM has been testing these on the BEVs, I have to assume prices will be in line with the auto. Airless – Michelin Michelin, GM Take the Air Out of Tires for Passenger Vehicles GM Corporate Newsroom - United States - Images - Airless tires testing on the BOLT Michelin--GM-Take-the-Air-Out-of-Tires-for-Passenger-Vehicles.mp4

Seems RAM needs help in building an electric truck, so they have at least attempted to sound like they will listen to customers by starting the RAM REVOLUTION web site for customer feedback on what should be in the RAM BEV Pickup truck. Ram Revolution | Ram Brand Electric Vehicles (ramtrucks.com)

Interesting read on the CGI changes to a Tahoe for making it into a 3 door SS K5. Chevy Tahoe SS Becomes Modern-Day 3-Door K5 Blazer With a Few Quick CGI Tricks - autoevolution https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZpaiochy7M/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=3c0bb214-a464-4338-9aea-72dcab9c69a9 https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHTV6tlO7U/ Have to say this does not set my pants on fire. 2023 Chevrolet Blazer Facelift Still Isn't Worthy of Its Nameplate - autoevolution Mustang and Bronco fans rejoice as Jim Farly, CEO of Ford says these two models will be some of the last to drop ICE powertrains. Ford CEO Jim Farley Confirms ICE Future for the Bronco and Mustang - autoevolution Quote: Whatever the future may hold for the Mustang, it’s also important to note that Ford has patented a hybrid V8 with two electric motors. Seems this might be Fords answer to the Hybrid Corvette.

Gut tells me the ability to not have to deal with a flat tire is very desirable by appliance auto buyers. I have to wonder how the balance will be when a section of tire filles up with dirt, mud, ice, snow, etc. Can ya say Thump Thump Thump! I totally get this technology for use in Forklifts, Tractors, etc. no high speed, consistent work area, but it will be interesting to see how it works on an actual auto that sits outside in the cold, freezing temps and gets frozen in a puddle of water.

Cause I could not stop laughing at the people. Too funny imho.

Crazy how people who bought the new Maverick are already experimenting with using Escape parts to take a basic version Maverick and add Platinum upgrades to it cheaper than buying that level. Ford Maverick Owners Are Hacking the Brand’s Parts Bin Into Their Trucks (thedrive.com) This has got to hurt for Toyota. LOL Ford Maverick Outsold the Ranger and Toyota Tundra in January (thedrive.com)

Funny to see other sites only now say the Bolt is dead. DOH, of course it is now that the Equinox based on an Ultium platform has been announced at a price point that is better than the Bolt. GM Could Replace Bolt with Less-Expensive Ultium-Based Vehicle (thetruthaboutcars.com)

WOW does this bring back memories of riding backwards in the 3rd seat of our Oldsmobile Delta 98 Custom Cruiser. Abandoned History: General Motors’ High Technology Engine, and Other CAFE Foibles (Part III) (thetruthaboutcars.com)

Thought of those here that loved the 70's and 80's land yachts. Landau yachts: The history of Lincoln's Designer Series (autoblog.com)

For those that like cars, Yes looking at @oldshurst442 and @ccap41 there are still some very interesting concepts that could, based on public opinion make it to production according to Stellantis. The release of the DS Concept car E-Tense. total output of 815 horsepower and 5,900 pound-feet of torque at the wheels and unlocks through-the-road all-wheel-drive DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE: DRIVING FUTURE | DS Automobiles | Stellantis Image album | DS Automobiles | Stellantis Not sure how some of the other media sites got these pictures which do not appear on the Stellantis DS Media folder, but I like the style. DS builds electric Formula E-powered concept to test new technologies (autoblog.com)

Seems Ford is looking to bypass the Dealers here in the U.S. as they open a new branch of direct sales to small businesses that can benefit from the reduced cost of running EVs and EV ownership versus ICE. Dealerships that screw over customers who are tired of Additional Market Markups and ignore Ford or GM should lose business. As such, I am happy to see the Legacy OEMs find ways to get around the dealership monopoly. Ford Targets Small Business Owners with Electric Vehicles (msn.com) QUOTE: The initiative is being pushed by Jim Farley, CEO for Ford, who told Fox Business: “Now we want to move into the services business, and those customers, most of them are small business. They own five or six vehicles or are a plumber, electrician. They are underserved customers with data and telematics. Ford is committed to helping small businesses, many of which operate in the services industry, to make owning an electric vehicle a reality, by offering financing, repair services and the full electric vehicle ‘package.’