Story ID: 
LoPresti Set To Roll Out Unpressurized Tires
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: LoPresti Aviation Engineering is poised to introduce a new type of tire called the Never Flat.
Word Count: 183
LoPresti Aviation Engineering is poised to introduce a new type of tire called the Never Flat. The tire features a composite band embedded inside the carcass before the tread is put on. “Technically it isn’t airless as we do inflate it to between 10 and 12 psi; however, that is just to give it a smooth ride. We drilled a two-inch hole in one of our demo units and it kept right on going,” David LoPresti, marketing manager and co-owner, told AIN. According to LoPresti, a regular tire rolling on the pavement flexes, a trait called squirm, and that creates rolling friction. The Never Flat dramatically reduces squirm, extending the life of the tire by 30 percent. Cirrus is the launch customer, though the TSO’d tire can replace any 15- by 6-ply low-profile tire. Priced at $1,200 a pair, the tires come with a 10-year no-flat warranty. “We start the final round of testing in October with first delivery slated for the first quarter of 2012. Depending on how it rolls out we’ll be looking toward the corporate market,” LoPresti said.