VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

In general, tires in motor vehicles need air. But with technological sophistication, many companies are trying to develop airless tire technology. But, the Army's Polytechnic of the Doctrine, Education and Training Guidance of the Indonesian Armed Forces (Poltekad Kodiklat TNI AD) creates aairless tires. The innovation is a new idea for the national automotive world. This tire has one advantage: it is leak proof whether it is pierced by nails or fired by a bullet. Brigadier General Nugraha Gumilar, Commander of Poltekad Kodiklat TNI AD, explained that currently, the airless tires are in the quality improvement stage. Afterwards, if the research and development results have been conducted and the airless tires are ready for use without further testing, the tires will be mass produced.

The airless tires created by TNI have hollows without any air in them. To secure this tire to the axle, five bolts are used on the rim of the car. The tires can easily pass through various tested terrains such as flat roads, rocky roads, rough rocks, and even rows of nails. The tires remain in their original position and do not experience a lack of pressure or deflated. In the future, the tires will be used on TNI AD military vehicles while on the battlefiled.

Brigadier General Nugraha Gumilar further stated that the manufacture of the airless tires was inspired by international tire manufacturer, Michelin. This is a French tire company which is known to have been developing airless tires for private car use since several years ago. By making it domestically, Nugraha emphasized that the community would not depend on foreign products later. This will reduce the need for imported air-free tires because they are in Indonesia. He believes that the quality of automotive components made by Poltekad students will not be inferior to foreign companies.