A tire and wheel assembly includes a non-pneumatic tire and a wheel. The non-pneumatic tire has a tread, a plurality of spokes, and an inner liner with a first side, a second side, and at least one taper extending between the first side and the second side. The wheel has an inboard side, an outboard side, and an outer surface with at least one complementary taper extending between the inboard side and the outboard side such that the non-pneumatic tire is serviceably mounted on the wheel. A locking ring can be included and the locking ring can be configured to abut against the inboard side or the outboard side of the wheel. Also, a wheel flange extending inwardly from the inner liner can be included and the wheel flange is configured to abut against the outboard side or the inboard side of the wheel.

A tire and wheel assembly includes a non-pneumatic tire and a wheel. The non-pneumatic tire has a tread, a plurality of spokes, and an inner liner with a first side, a second side, and at least one taper extending between the first side and the second side. The wheel has an inboard side, an outboard side, and an outer surface with at least one complementary taper extending between the inboard side and the outboard side such that the non-pneumatic tire is serviceably mounted on the wheel. A locking ring can be included and the locking ring can be configured to abut against the inboard side or the outboard side of the wheel. Also, a wheel flange extending inwardly from the inner liner can be included and the wheel flange is configured to abut against the outboard side or the inboard side of the wheel.

A wheel assembly of a vehicle (e.g., a forklift or another material-handling vehicle) is monitored to obtain information regarding the vehicle, including information regarding the wheel assembly, which may be indicative of how the vehicle including the wheel assembly is used (e.g., a duty cycle of the vehicle and/or the wheel assembly), a state (e.g., a degree of wear) of the wheel assembly, loading and shocks on the wheel assembly, and/or a state of an environment (e.g., environmental temperature, a profile, compliance, or other condition of an underlying surface beneath the wheel assembly), and which may be, for example, conveyed to a user (e.g., an operator of the vehicle), transmitted to a remote party (e.g., a provider), and/or used to control the vehicle (e.g., a speed of the vehicle). This may improve use, maintenance, safety and/or other aspects of the vehicle, including the wheel assembly.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension permitting relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include tread assemblies carried by the outer rim. Each tread assembly may include a tread member support coupled to the outer rim, and spaced-apart tread members carried by the tread member support and defining a tread pattern therebetween. Each tread member may include at least one rubber layer, and at least one reinforcing layer in stacked relation.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension permitting relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include tread assemblies carried by the outer rim. Each tread assembly may include a tread member support coupled to the outer rim, and spaced-apart tread members carried by the tread member support and defining a tread pattern therebetween. Each tread member may include at least one rubber layer, and at least one reinforcing layer in stacked relation.

An airless flexible tire including traction lug pairs each having a forward facing traction lug and a rearward facing traction lug cooperatively forming a divided Z or reverse divided Z shape. Each traction lug includes a lateral section and a central section. The central section extends from an end of the lateral section so as to straddle a centerline of the airless flexible tire and includes a number of discrete sidewalls. The discrete sidewalls are different sizes and angled relative to each other. The central sections of paired traction lugs form a space dividing portions of the Z or reverse Z shape. The central sections of nearest traction lugs of adjacent traction lug pairs form a space dividing the adjacent traction lug pairs.

An airless flexible tire including traction lug pairs each having a forward facing traction lug and a rearward facing traction lug cooperatively forming a divided Z or reverse divided Z shape. Each traction lug includes a lateral section and a central section. The central section extends from an end of the lateral section so as to straddle a centerline of the airless flexible tire and includes a number of discrete sidewalls. The discrete sidewalls are different sizes and angled relative to each other. The central sections of paired traction lugs form a space dividing portions of the Z or reverse Z shape. The central sections of nearest traction lugs of adjacent traction lug pairs form a space dividing the adjacent traction lug pairs.

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly which includes a rim, and a spoke ring structure having an inner ring that is mounted on an outer surface of the rim. The inner ring has one or more retention nubs aligned for reception in complementary shaped grooves on the outer surface of the rim, wherein the spoke ring structure has a plurality of spoke members, and an outer tread ring is mounted on the outer circumference of the spoke ring.

A system in accordance with the present invention cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes: a functional wheel member being slid into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongate spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongate inserts for creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and flap members of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.

A system in accordance with the present invention cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes: a functional wheel member being slid into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongate spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongate inserts for creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and flap members of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.