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Why don’t we, instead of filling tires with air, just make them out of solid rubber?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Mar 1, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Solid rubber weighs way too much. Edit: they are experimenting with airless tires though. Imagine a hollow honeycomb in a circle.

93
Words

1 min
Read Time

#148
of 500 in Science

+29%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

Solid rubber weighs way too much. Edit: they are experimenting with airless tires though. Imagine a hollow honeycomb in a circle. I think they're plastic. I've looked into this, and will post a link as soon as I find it. Edit edit: [Link]( _URL_0_) this is some pretty cool stuff. I last looked into it a few years ago and there wasn't much info on it except the military was testing it. The pictures I saw then, the outer surface was hexagonal too, and it was said to be a really bumpy ride.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Edit, looked, link

This explanation focuses on edit, looked, link and spans 93 words across 8 sentences. At 29% above the average Science explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Solid rubber weighs way too much.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 8 connected points.

How This Compares in Science

Ranked #148 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 30%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why we, instead of filling tires with air, just make them out of solid rubber?

Solid rubber weighs way too much. Edit: they are experimenting with airless tires though. Imagine a hollow honeycomb in a circle. I think they're plastic. I've looked into this, and will post a link as soon as I find it. Edit edit: [Link]( _URL_0_)…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?

This is an above-average answer at 93 words, ranked #148 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are edit, looked, link.

What approach does this answer take to explain we, instead of filling tires with air, just make them out of?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 93 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.