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0 pointslucianbr1y ago0 comments

> one big upside is that you can theoretically avoid the rubber/microplastic particulate emission associated with tires and wheeled vehicles if you can make legged vehicles as good as wheeled ones.

How does keeping rough terrain rough help with that?

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necovek1y ago

My implication is that you want rubber for nice asphalt/road surface to avoid damaging it — for comfort, other suspension components can help out instead.

If you don't care about preserving the terrain (which you can when it's rough to begin with), you can just go with large surface metal feet and you should not get any rubber/microplastics, though you will get metallic dust.

lucianbrOP1y ago

Wht do you think mountain bikes have rubber tires? Or one of these? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-terrain_vehicle Or a dune buggy?

Pretty clearly the worry about the road surface is not the only cause of using tires.

Also, if you don't care for either preserving the surface or comfort (use something else for comfort) then... use metal wheels. Or ceramic wheels, or tracks or something.

Loughla1y ago

I believe the main issue is the rubber and chemicals from the nice road surfaces. So your argument seems like a problem looking for a solution?

necovek1y ago

That's wrong: the problem is the rubber on the wheel (or feet in case of legs) being spent due to the traction and emission of rubber microparticles as it is.

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necovek1y ago

My implication is that you want rubber for nice asphalt/road surface to avoid damaging it — for comfort, other suspension components can help out instead.

lucianbrOP1y ago

Wht do you think mountain bikes have rubber tires? Or one of these? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-terrain_vehicle Or a dune buggy?

Pretty clearly the worry about the road surface is not the only cause of using tires.

Also, if you don't care for either preserving the surface or comfort (use something else for comfort) then... use metal wheels. Or ceramic wheels, or tracks or something.

Loughla1y ago

I believe the main issue is the rubber and chemicals from the nice road surfaces. So your argument seems like a problem looking for a solution?

necovek1y ago

That's wrong: the problem is the rubber on the wheel (or feet in case of legs) being spent due to the traction and emission of rubber microparticles as it is.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse