STARCO Flex

Since the invention of the pneumatic tyre in 1845, wheeled vehicles and implements have enjoyed the benefits of an air cushion between the machine and the surface on which it runs. A flexible pneumatic tyre offers better grip on the ground over which it passes and a smoother, more comfortable ride. For many years, the pneumatic tyre was the only form of shock absorption available – and today this remains the case for many applications such as bicycles, garden machinery, wheelbarrows; and other internal transport equipment such as trolleys and carts.

Whilst the benefits of the pneumatic tyre are manifold, all pneumatic tyres are susceptible to punctures, the repair of which can be time-consuming and expensive. Whilst motor vehicles carry a spare tyre, few users of wheelbarrows, lawn mowers or warehouse trolleys have a spare wheel on hand when they encounter a flat tyre.

There are many solid rubber or polymer-based alternatives available, but none of these offer the same performance characteristics of the pneumatic tyre.

For over 150 years the puncture has been an unavoidable risk for any wheeled application that demands comfort and flexibility – until now!

As Europe’s leading manufacturer and supplier of wheels and tyres, STARCO is proud to present its latest innovation – STARCO Flex – a “solid” tyre made from microcellular polyurethane material, the characteristics and performance of which are comparable to those of a pneumatic tyre.

STARCO Flex tyres are suitable for the majority of low speed, non-highway applications – for both rolling and driven wheels on fixed or steered axles.

STARCO Flex tyres are available in a range of colours and tread patterns to suit different applications, and can incorporate bespoke designs for OEM manufacturers. With the company’s in-house manufacturing and mould tool making, STARCO is able to offer rapid prototyping and production of custom tyre designs for the OEM customer – supplemented if required by bespoke plastic, steel or alloy wheels. STARCO engineering staff can custom design the tyre – or the entire wheel configuration – to meet specific machinery design or application requirements. With the aid of a simple press, STARCO Flex tyres may be fitted on plastic, steel or alloy wheels. STARCO offers a range of valveless wheels for such applications and the STARCO Flex tyre may also be used as a replacement for pneumatic tyres on standard wheels – to serve the aftermarket trade.

Whilst polyurethane wheels have been available for some years from other manufacturers, STARCO is the first manufacturer to develop a polyurethane tyre with documented performance characteristics, including load and speed indices, suitable for applications for which pneumatic tyres were previously the only option.

The STARCO Flex tyre – like its pneumatic counterpart – has a mechanical load and stress distribution profile which offers the optimal footprint under load – large enough to bear the load and ensure excellent contact with the ground – small enough to maintain steering precision and avoid unnecessary stress to the tread surface. This results in a tyre that handles well on sand, gravel and unstable terrain.

The low-hysterisis microcellular foam compound is specially formulated to offer optimal flexibility with low heat build up and a low tendency for flat spotting when parked under heavy load for long periods. The unique STARCO manufacturing process makes it possible to create differentiated densities within the foam to offer a tyre with a hard tread and flexible side walls.

All STARCO Flex tyres have undergone exhaustive destructive and non-destructive testing at the STARCO engineering facility in Rugeley, UK. Such evaluation includes prolonged testing on a rolling road under excess load and/or speeds, exceeding those likely to be encountered in real world applications. In these tests STARCO Flex tyres have exceeded the expectations of the design engineers.

As a vertically integrated organisation STARCO has control of the entire manufacturing and supply chain – from design and development – often in cooperation with specific OEM customers, through manufacturing and evaluation, to distribution and logistics. This gives STARCO the confidence to stand behind every STARCO Flex tyre sold anywhere in the world.

So after 150 years, the punctured wheelbarrow, lawn mower, trolley or cart tyre has become a thing of the past – the OEM manufacturer – and the end user – can now enjoy the best of both worlds; a puncture free tyre with the performance, endurance and longevity of the pneumatic tyre - STARCO Flex.