# Shock-Absorbing Bike Tires The 'Soft Creeper' Conceptual Bike Tires Bend Rather Than Blow Out By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2017-05-26 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soft-creeper References: [yankodesign](http://www.yankodesign.com/2017/05/25/behold-the-tires-of-the-future/) Going over a jagged object or surface on your bicycle will often lead to a blown-out tire, so the 'Soft Creeper' [conceptual bike tire](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-bike-concept-design) aims to change this with a design that offers a way for the wheel to simply bounce back. Boasting [shock absorbing capabilities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-suspension-wheel), the tires are crafted with individual sections that are intended to shift when they go over uneven land or objects for a more comfortable ride. If a portion of the 'Soft Creeper' tire becomes damaged, riders can simply replace that one section rather than the entire tire to decrease the occurrence of having to make full-scale replacements. The tire is the design work of a team based at the [Dalian Minzu University](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bamboo-washing-machine) in China including Su Hengchang, Zhang Dianming, Qiao Song, Zhang Mengbo, Cao Xinyu, Wu Jiahao, Xu Zhe and Ran Xuyang. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.1/10 - Popularity: 90% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Shock-absorbing Bike Tires:** The development of shock-absorbing bike tires presents an opportunity for the bicycle industry to enhance rider comfort and reduce tire replacement costs. - **Sectional Tire Design:** The concept of individual sections in bike tires creates opportunities for disruptive innovation in the tire manufacturing industry, allowing for easier maintenance and repair. - **Sustainable Bike Technology:** The use of durable and replaceable sections in bike tires aligns with the growing trend of sustainable and eco-friendly innovations in the cycling industry. ### Who This Affects Most - **Bicycle:** The bicycle industry can capitalize on shock-absorbing tires to offer enhanced riding experiences and capture a niche market segment. - **Tire Manufacturing:** The tire manufacturing industry can leverage the sectional tire design to create innovative products that provide improved performance, durability, and ease of maintenance. - **Sustainability:** The sustainable and eco-friendly bike technology sector can benefit from the use of replaceable tire sections, reducing waste and promoting a circular economy. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Airless Bicycle Tires](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airless-bicycle-tires.md) - [Transforming Smart Vehicle Tires](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/conqueror-tire.md) - [Space-Inspired Airless Tires](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metl-tire.md) - [Shock-Absorbing Urban Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-bicycles.md) - [Bump-Absorbing Electric Motorbikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/offroad-motorbikes.md) - [Tread-Wheel Geometric Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-q.md) - [Airless Machinery Tires](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airless-machine-tires.md) - [Functional All-Terrain Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diverge-str.md) - [Slipper Wheel-Less Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slipper-bicycle.md)