Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is offering the non-pneumatic TurfCommand tire, as an upgrade option on Bad Boy Mowers’ Outlaw XP, with expected availability in early 2018.
“The commercial release of this turf tire is an important step in our efforts to develop airless tire technology for a range of applications,” said Christopher Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer. “As we look to a future where ridesharing and autonomous vehicles become mainstream, the demand for lower maintenance, longer lasting tires will continue to increase.”
Goodyear has been developing non-pneumatic technologies since the 1970s when it participated in the design of tires for NASA’s Apollo lunar roving vehicle, and in recent years in the development of a tire for future missions to Mars.
The non-pneumatic tire uses DuraWeb technology that had been in development these past few years by Goodyear. The tire features a thermoplastic connecting structure that provides a unique combination of stiffness and flexibility to carry heavy loads while maintaining a smooth ride and minimizing turf tear. It was designed to deform, absorb impact, and create a smooth ride every time.
The tire is being manufactured in the U.S., exclusively for Bad Boy Mowers.
