Yes, I don't see why they can't cover the side with rubber to make it look undistinguishable to the regular wheels we have now.

 

I wonder if they'll ever figure out the noise problem?
I heard they're kinda noisy.
My old Tuffwheels on my bmx bike were noisy too, and they had a rubber tire to dampen them.

 

I read that a while ago in a magazine... Looks like **** to me

 

That was my first thought, but then I realized it was probably because it would defeat its air-free design in the first place. See my previous comment.

 

On the subject of the sidewalls, you could put a soft compound rubber on the side so that it could flex easily, I would think. Does the article mention if sidewalls would affect the performance of the tire. I think without sidewalls this will be a hard sell for most people.

 

Yes, I would think they can probably figure out a way to add purely aesthetic sidewalls without affecting performance. Besides, having some kind of side walls does not necessarily mean the tire will be inflated with air, does it ? It may not be completely air free, but can't they make it in such a way where air pressure inside is always low & there wouldn't be significant variations of air pressure inside the tire ?

 

Of course. Just put the sidewall on one (the outer) side.

 

Unfortunately, I'm no physicist

 

Neither am I, but a cosmetic rubber sidewall that's very thin and flexible won't add crap to sidewall stiffness.

If you take a soup can with both ends open and stretch a balloon over the open ends, does it get any stronger?

 

Yes, I actually tend to agree with you all along . . .

 

All that surface area...that's a lot of silicone to shine those bad boys up....hell no...

 

looks like you're riding on skeletel wheels

 

Good point, a balloon will probably do.

But even then, the rims are just way too small (are those 10" rims I see?).