Why Twin-Tire Technology Never Gained Traction With Buyers
Twin-tire tech had almost every advantage over traditional radials, apart from one thing.
The ’80s certainly were a wild time for some, and with advancements in computer technology racing forward faster than ever, folks were keen to try out new technology. Twin-tire tech was one of those experiments, and judging from this Los Angeles Times period piece, you’d think it was the greatest thing to happen to tires since they got rid of inner tubes.
British tire manufacturer Avon supplied the rubber. Combined with Italian-designed rims, they allowed for a wider footprint. Remember, this was at the time when a 245-width tire on a Porsche 911 Turbo was considered “extreme.”
Not only did the footprint widen, but the gap between the tires allowed for amazing water evacuation. That becomes a big advantage because wider tires are much more susceptible to hydroplaning. That makes for two obvious advantages.
CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About Dual-Tire Tech
Salvador Soto and Ray Lopez were two initial Los Angeles investors behind the project. Hope had been high, too, given the two points made above. But as we see on any current road, there doesn’t seem to be a single car around with a twin-tire setup, aside from a few big trucks. So what went wrong?
Pricing and demand meant the project was short-lived. Accounting for inflation, pricing would have been $3,000 to more than $5,500 for a set of eight tires. Granted, there are specialty rims that you can buy today for that cost, but demand put the final nail in the twin-tire coffin. Advancements in tread design and compound matched the advantages of the twin-tire, and did so at a much lower cost.
Oh, the ’80s. How we love looking back at you.
