Tires instead of wheels.

I don't know if you oculd do it, but S&S did it for Thrust Air.

Would it be possible to but air filled tires, on Mean Streak. If it was that would probably reduce the shaking on it, and provide a smoother and fun ride for people who don't like it now.

Just a thought, but you'll probably jump all over me saying it can't be done.

As long as it's not Firestone ;)

Seriously though, I don't think it would be possible, as the track is not designed for this. As for MS, you would not get that feel of a wooden coaster, it would just feel like a typical drive on Pittsburgh roads ;)

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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
MF Count 14 :)

I suspect that would make friction much too high.

That's a really mean comment, Seven, about Firestone. *GRIN* But you're right, I don't think you could do that. Can you imagine the ride if one of the tires burst? Much rougher than now, that's for sure! And you're right, Bill, the friction would be too much.

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***************
Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

This kind of raises a concern too for TA2K, what would happen if the thing does blow a tire?

Hmmmmm....

Seriously though, this really should be discussed over at coasterbuzz.

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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
MF Count 14 :)

The TA2K tires are air-filled, but the rubber is much more dense on the outer layering now. I do believe they changed it to that awhile back.

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"Your obssesed w/ that place aren't you?" (as stated by my best-friends about CP)

They are airplane tires, I believe. I'd imagine they'd have some sort of run-flat ability, as well.

My understanding is that the TA2K chassis includes a safety block of some sort (chunk of UHMW or small roller or something like that) to take up the slack if a tire should blow. That's the first bit.

Second, you could probably put air-filled tires on Mean Streak, probably something similar to the tires on some of the A/V carts I have here at work. But unless the axles are changed to allow proper tracking, such tires are going to be ripped to shreds on the curves.

An almost equivalent idea would be to attach a solid polyurethane or nylon tire to the steel wheel as we see on the steel coasters. Again, though, the tire will be destroyed as long as the wheel can't properly follow the curve.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Ok, well it was worth a try, but I understand everything you said.