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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.
Tactical/Military Platforms
Off-Road racing development throughout the initial 5 years of the company’s existence propelled the use in military applications after the first validation through the SxS and Motorcycle platforms for the Special Operators for the US Navy. Simultaneously a mule type platform development for John Deere with the militarized M Gators came into fruition. Military/Commercial platforms successes during the last decade now consist of approximately 90% of the sales volume for The TireBall Company.
The most prominent of the tire/wheel assemblies where the TireBall MCIS lightweight run-flat systems are fielded in theatre are:
Motorcycle –
Special Operators globally are utilizing the TireBall MCIS systems not only as a lightweight alternative to the conventional heavy tube, but also like the advantages to tire performance enhancements. TireBalls allow for multiple punctures without immediate tire failure but also of dampening for rough terrain and improved traction by running lower pressures for improved contact patches.
# of assemblies fielded: 400+
Tactical/Military Platforms
Off-Road racing development throughout the initial 5 years of the company’s existence propelled the use in military applications after the first validation through the SxS and Motorcycle platforms for the Special Operators for the US Navy. Simultaneously a mule type platform development for John Deere with the militarized M Gators came into fruition. Military/Commercial platforms successes during the last decade now consist of approximately 90% of the sales volume for The TireBall Company.
The most prominent of the tire/wheel assemblies where the TireBall MCIS lightweight run-flat systems are fielded in theatre are:
Motorcycle – # of assemblies fielded: 400+
Special Operators globally are utilizing the TireBall MCIS systems not only as a lightweight alternative to the conventional heavy tube, but also like the advantages to tire performance enhancements. TireBalls allow for multiple punctures without immediate tire failure but also of dampening for rough terrain and improved traction by running lower pressures for improved contact patches.
Quad’s/ATV’s – # of assemblies fielded: 1000’s
Many branches of the US and Global Militaries take advantage of the light weight run-flat TireBall configurations for the use in ATV type platforms. This came about utilizing a common assembly that can be used not only in the ATV but share similar bolt patterns and tire/wheel configurations as the militarized SxS’s. Not only due to the availability of running on a number of punctures over many of miles without failure, but the additional tire/wheel enhancements that come with the multiple cells to improve the spring element, contact patch, load dampening, and sidewall stability that comes with compartmentalized air and the TireBall MCIS.
LTATV’s – # of assemblies fielded: 6500+
LTATV’s – USSOCOM contract award H92222-09-R-0014 signified one of the largest contract awards for TireBalls. The Light Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle platform utilizing the Kawasaki Teryx modified Recreational Vehicle where TireBalls MCIS was mandated as the lightweight run-flat. Throughout the development, validation and fielding the tire/wheel assemblies performed flawlessly and became the staple for which many future platform developments started with over 6,000 assemblies fielded throughout 5 year contract. The after-market tire/wheel assemblies for the current LTATV Polaris Platforms has sold in excess of 500 assemblies featuring a lighter, less expensive and outperforming assembly than the OEM featured tire/wheel package.
GAARV Storm – # of assemblies fielded: 300+
SRTV program awarded in 2014 consisted of a partnership with a racing development team and a large military contractor HDT to field a tactical platform that could face some of the harshest terrains imaginable for the rescue of isolated personnel and transporting a rescue team. The tires chosen were larger than the conventional tactical tire for the adverse terrain and were a perfect fit with the TireBalls MCIS. The final validation of the run-flat phase of the award the vehicle was able to travel in excess of 170 miles on a flat. A total of 61 vehicles were awarded and are being delivered in the coming months of 2014 & 2015.
Armored Hilux/Vigo – # of assemblies fielded: 300
This platform is classified however basic information regarding the use of the TireBall MCIS and the benefits are similar to the many other platforms to date. The need was for a light weight run-flat with tire enhancing capabilities to traverse harsh terrain without interfering with ride quality or tire/wheel performance when called upon to reduce carcass pressure or when flat. Conventional run-flat density issues interfere with ride quality or abruptness of suspension when the outside diameter of the run-flat is so much as to keep the tire/wheel section height upright during air down or flat conditions damage or cause degradation to the assemblies. The TireBall MCIS at a higher pressure and thicker material does not allow the tire to deflect as much as the conventional run-flat and does have a spring element thus dampening harsh terrain even at lower carcass pressures or even when tire is flat. These vehicles weigh in excess of 8500 lbs GVW.
John Deere M Gator – # of assemblies fielded: 8500+
The strength and longevity of the TireBall MCIS had been validated early on with the help of John Deere for all of the militarized A1 & A3 Gators where TireBalls MCIS are stock tire inserts. This relationship has been the longest and largest of the TireBall military partnerships. The benefits of not only the light weight run-flat but the overall tire performance due to the unpredictability of loads and tire pressures has blossomed the success of the configurations far beyond the initial expectations.
GMV/HMMWV Platforms – # of assemblies fielded: Assemblies were validated and now finalizing implementation of platform.
Recent demands for optimizing the tire/wheel enhancement capabilities for platforms similar to an unarmored HMMWV type vehicle has become apparent with the terrain demands in theatre. Tactical off-road tire/wheel performance traversing harsh terrain call for a tire not be encumbered by the abruptness of a conventional run flat that may interfere with ride quality or tire traction performance when the need to lower carcass pressure during normal driving on un-improved terrain. TireBall configured tires compartmentalize the air within the carcass supported by a strong elastomeric urethane pressurized cell that has a dampening spring element vs a conventional run-flat. The conventional run-flat premise of not allowing the tire to deflect beyond the tires capabilities of withstanding side wall degradations when flat also contribute to ride and suspension failures due to the density of the product with no spring element that interfere when tire is at a lower pressure. Conventional run-flats have struggled to find the middle ground the diameter of the run-flat so not interfere with ride quality and thus not allowing the tire to deflect too much when called upon as a run-flat. This was a direct result of the success in the use of the product with the armored Toyota platform.
A number of variants have validated the use of the TireBall configurations to allow for the best optimal tire performance for off-road use.
RDECOM utilizes TireBall configured tires to dampen the recoil effects of the use of the larger artillery mounted on the rear of the HMMWV.
Flyer Defense/General Dynamics development of the ITV and GMV 1.1 had the need for optimal off-road performance
Naval Post Graduate School was the first fielded platform where tire/wheel performance longevity testing first started.
