Eli5 Why do tires use air instead of solid rubber all the wsy?

Question

Wouldnt a solid rubber tire do the same job with no risk of punctures?

In: 296

Answer 1

Solid tyres have been used and up until a few decades ago I had solid tyres on a trike I had (I was small kid). They don’t retain tread any better and they give a worse ride. For use in anything larger they’d use excessive rubber, be more expensive to buy, be heavier and use more fuel too. The cheapest option is using air or nitrogen filled tyres..