Far Eastern tyre manufacturer Nexen have just released a very interesting, but no doubt incredibly painful, way to turn any ride into the ultimate show-car overnight. Stretched across 24-inch rims these 15-profile rubber bands are the latest “tyre”, and I use the word loosely, available from the outfit, half the profile height of what used to be considered the limit of questionably low, low-profile rubber.

Check them out at Wheels24, here.

We’re big fans of stunning aesthetics on any car here at Drive, but this does seem like a step too far surely. There can be no impact-absorption in this miniscule strip of rubber at all, so every time you hit one of those “bumps” on our highways where the surface changes you’ll be shelling out for new, shiny 24-inch wheels! And that’s not to mention regular road gremlins like speedbumps, potholes, errant bricks, or peskily tough insects for that matter.

And the ride quality? We know active, always-adaptive suspension systems are becoming more and more common but even these won’t be able to make for an acceptable ride when you’re basically running your rims on the metal alone. A sure-fire way of turning any comfortable German supersaloon into a machine that no-one, not even the driver, actually wants to take for a little spin, unless their route happens to be paved afresh, weekly, with the finest-grade racetrack-smooth asphalt available.

Perhaps that’s the trouble, perhaps Nexan are ahead of the game and know something about the roads of tomorrow that we’re missing? Besides, on a show car which literally has to roll off the transporter, and up onto a purpose-built, smooth-surface automotive show podium, which is really what these tyres are all about, they will look the absolute bee’s knees. Just don’t, we repeat do not, try and import a set for your daily driver unless you absolutely hate driving your car.

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