Bomb Proof Tires

I have always been fascinated by military technology. As a 12 yo kid I used to write to the various Secretaries of the armed services asking for information on their various eapons. I would always get a very nice letter from some undersecretary along with a thick packet of wonderful stuff showing tanks, planes, ships, etc.
Now that my kid is in the Army, my interest in innovative technology towards life saving military applications is even keener. This CNET News article is welcome news for anyone with a loved one who goes in harm's way.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Wausau, Wis., company have come up with a 37-inch, bullet- and a bomb-proof Humvee tire based on a polymeric web so cool looking there's no need for hub caps.

This is hawt.

Resilient Technologies and Wisconsin-Madison's Polymer Engineering Center are creating a "non-pneumatic tire" (no air required) that will support the weight of add-on armor, survive an IED attack, and still make a 50 mph getaway. It's basically a round honeycomb wrapped with a thick, black tread.

The military wants an alternative to the current Humvee "run flat" tires, which despite the name, still need a minimal amount of air pressure to roll and can leave troops stranded after being shot or blown out.

There will have to be a trial or shakedown period, of course; but I hope that this goes out to the troops ASAP.