1. Total rim width
The widest part of the top of the rim will determine how wide we can safely make a tire. 

2. Interior rim width
This needs to be averaged out over a range of various rims that we anticipate the tire to fit. 

3. Rim Shoulder Rest Area
Also averaged out over a range of rims and important for the ability for the tire to rest appropriately on the top of the rim. Some rim rests are wider than others

4. Area to Contact
This refers to the area of the tire that will come into contact with the surface while being ridden in a normal manner. We use 90 degrees or 45 degrees off center for establishing the safety zone and to ensure that some tire area remains after that for those who will undoubtedly put their bikes through extremes.

5. Area of Non Contact
This section of the tire is not anticipated to see much contact with the road and establishes the area in which we have to work with any tire size designations, decorative patterns or a company logo.

6. Rim Rest Contact Area
Not all the tires are flush with the top of the rim. For example if we determine the tire will be used off road or we are looking to make a wider tire, this area might be beveled at an angle upwards and away from the rim.

7. Tire Height
The tire height can be calculated at roughly 60% of the maximum width of the tire allowed. The height of the tire will be important in determining how much leverage would need to be present to dislodge an airless tire from the rim.

8. Tire Width
The width of the tire can calculated by multiplying Total Rim Width by roughly 150%. The taller the tire you want the wider the tire will need to be. There is a sliding scale however in that the wider the rim the more we can multiply by up to a point. As a rule, thinner rims are capped out at 135% like a 17mm rim alloy rim and the wider steel box type rim (24mm) can utilize the full 150%.

9. Rim Rest Width
Usually a space of 1mm-3mm is allowed to hang over the rim where the tire actually contacts the top of the rim to help seat tires on different width rims but may have similar interior rim characteristics. Not all rims have the same width rim wall.

We start out by taking a look at some of the things to consider when designing a tire. Some of the basic things that confront us are whether the tire will be used one in front of the other like a bicycle or if the tire will be used in a side by side configuration like a cart or disability vehicle. The pages that follow will concentrate on the one in front of the other aspect.

The Rainier Aqua Glider was created sometime in the 1980s as an entry into the commuter/comfort bike tire market. Sized at 26 x 1.5 this tire really does exhibit good ride and is actually very hard to dislodge. Made with an inverted intermittent bell tread pattern this tire is very good on the streets. Also designed to fit single wall rims which typically have the designation 2.125, the tire fits the wider 24mm wide box and double walled rims like the Velocity Psycho, Sun Rhyno or the Alex DM 24.

Notice the relationship of tire height to the width of the rim. Because the Rainier uses such a wide rim, the tire is inherently safer and the balance point of the tire is down low where we want it to be. This tire has a nice round shape so the 90 degree of travel is almost half of a circle. Computer modeling has shown this to be an ideal characteristic for a front tire. 

This tires makes good use of the rim rest areas, rim depth and fully occupies the the interior of the rim. This shape of tire is resistant to being knocked because of the height /width aspect ratio. This is a good safe product.

When coupled with a rim like the Velocity Psycho, the rim and tire combination will be virtually indistinguishable from a high quality rubber tire/ rim set up. In fact we are so confident in the ability of the this tire to satisfy the need for speed, we feature this tire as the best the airless tire industry has to offer. Although the designation is of a 26 x 1.5 tire, it acts larger and is a very substantial tire. 

The Rainier Aqua Glider comes in colors and the High Rebound elastomer material. It's ideal applications are commuters and high weight situations where rubber tires have not been able to take the punishment. The Rainier Aqua Glider serves as a good representative of the airless tire today and is only a precursor of the things to come. Elastomer technology will allow us to fully imitate the performance characteristics of the high quality pneumatics and bring the fast and lightweight tires to market.

As you browse the collection, please keep in mind that all of our tires have designed in similar fashion and are safe when properly installed on a rim. For over thirty years we have been supplying the mobility industry where wheelchairs can pinch the tires off of rims when turning on a dime. Our experience with this has allowed us to design tires that are resistant to being dislodged and that can take all kinds of riding and terrain. 

Air Free - your source for the best tires

Now we take a look at the future of bicycle tires. Rim and tire combos represent the best opportunity for urethane to outperform traditional air inflated rubber tires. Since current rim designs limit us to the shapes and sizes of tires that can be designed, the airless tire industry has been relegated to the role of aftermarket replacement when and if the tire would fit. The two examples below are in a series of rim/tire combos called the "Firm Fit" for which airless tires could possibly enter the bicycle market as original equipment.

The Training Order is a tire that could actually surpass a rubber tire/rim combination in performance for the avid/competition bicycle market as the first thing one would notice is just how aerodynamic the combo is. The tire has been modeled after high performance motorcycle tires and is actually a scaled down version. Because the tire does not protrude past the rim walls, deflection is minimized and very little energy is lost when cornering. Also a substantial portion of the tire sits below the top of the rim and would be virtually impossible to dislodge while riding. 

Since urethanes are only going to get better, the Training Order would be positioned to be an effective replacement tire/rim combo where riders would typically use a 25mm wide touring or competition tire and where the psi is would normally be above 100psi. Although the rounded profile would wear down with use, its wear rate would slowed by the super dense elastomer formula. An amazing 60 degree off center constant travel area is present and the rim mechanically cradles the tire into place. 

The first thing you may notice is the unusual shape of the interior portion of the rim. The rounded portions inside the rim are just an extension of the hook bead and exact more surface area against the tire. The increase in the area of the rim contacting the tire would make it more difficult for the tire to slip when torqued suddenly or forcefully. 

The outside of the rim can be made to be any appearance and the one shown here is meant to resemble a modern deep "v" rim  and would see use as a 'free wheel' or on bikes where disc brakes are used. A rim with a more traditional CNC machined side wall could be made for the bikes that would require the brakes that come into contact with the rim. The nice thing about the this rim and tire combo that it really gives the airless tire industry an opportunity to put a very strong and stable product into the market place and often times this combo would surpass the performance of what may have been on the bike before or what it replaces at the OEM level.

Less urethane is used in many of the anticipated designs so the tires end up lighter and because the tire is wider, it absorbs road shock better.

The Air Free Training Order is an outstanding example of creative thinking, problem solving and willingness to challenge
the status quo.