A must have are access ports on all of the wheel covers where you can add Air to the tires.
Also something else I have been concerned about. With the wheels sticking out from the body, Are other drivers going to take a wheel out when they overtake you. You get used to how close you can get to another car in traffic. Someone might not see your wheel, obstructed by their hood ? Then just run into it.
BIG differences from vehicles mentioned above:
- Prowler front tires/fenders are actually NARROWER than the rears, by about 4".
- Prowler is about 17" narrower than Aptera.
- Slingshot is over 11" narrower than Aptera.
- Can Am Spyder is nearly 27" narrower.
I think parking is no concern. Anyone with a brain should be checking that the entire lane is clear of obstruction before entering their whole vehicle. The concern on the road driving is more well founded because maintaining a lane for long periods of time, using mirrors and quick glances to make assessments of other vehicles, multitasking, and doing that all at night could cause issues when dealing with a vehicle that has "deceptive" dimensions. Actually I'm gonna try and fit a Decepticon license plate frame on my Aptera.
I've researched those airless tires before. Promising first iteration...
There is a better solution, and it looks like Michelin is the trying to bring it to market with chevy. I saw this design (initially created by some inner city kids and documented on Scientific American Frontiers). The original design was using cuts from old tires as the spokes and wrapping the entire structure with new rubber over the skeleton.
I would prefer to see something like this as a solution. Much less wasteful and considerably more reliable.
Ok here's some numbers per Alpha models:
The Aptera's front wheel pants hang out 12.3" past the body when viewed from the front.
They are "exposed" away from the curving front of the vehicle about 17" from the body.
The top of the wheel pants is about 26" off the ground, and a few inches higher than the nose of the vehicle.
So in order for a collision to occur with the wheel pants, the other driver would have to come within 17" of the nose of the vehicle and within 12" from the side, probably about 6" from the mirrors. Now grab a ruler and ask yourself if you have ever seen another vehicle within 17" of yours while driving around on the highway. If you have, you probably expected a collision anyway and did something to change the situation. Seems pretty easy to avoid and unlikely to happen to me where I live.
Just adding to the good chat...
You will be able to roll the Aptera until the valves are in the bottom exposed area.
During one of the video either Chris or Steve slightly pushed the Aptera, sitting outside alongside it.... to show how easy it rolls in that neutral position So enough surely for air pressure top off. Easy to show your vehicle service provider if you use that ( like Discount Tire)
I did go to a Prowler roadshow. Those front wheels did stick out. But that was a car so they have a front bumper that spanned the wheel width. But.... I am sure that still had similar safety tips to be learned
Plymouth made a car called the Prowler from 1997 to 2002 and it had front wheels that were out away from the main body similar to the Aptera. Maybe read about that car and see if there were any problems of other cars clipping the wheels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gYC0w28uxA&ab_channel=DougDeMuro
We can easily remove the covers to get access to the wheels. A single access port would be just as much work and not have as much access to the wheels.
The wheels stick out about as much as car or small truck mirrors. Will they hit first? Yes. It could happen. Chances are though people will be so busy staring at this weird aerodynamic car they won't be as likely to hit it... I will see how it goes and if it's an issue I may add a high-visibility wrap to part of the wheel pants. Seriously though if I'm that worried about someone getting that close I probably shouldn't be on the road. It's not like it sticks out two feet... 18 inches seems likely which is not very much. Unless you're in some country that normally gets inches from other people...
Also in parking lots, always park nose in first.
Hey Indy.... I heard Nathan Armstrong, Apter's lead engineer, explain that the Aptera will be using standard 16" or 17" tires. He explained the wheels could be easily removed and the tire repaired or replaced in the event of a flat. He further explained that the Roadster has 4 jack points. But, I don't believe it will come with a jack or spare tire.
That being said, standard tires come equipped with a standard schrader valve you should be able to access with an air hose. He said the wheel covers can be removed but you should be able to access the valve by positioning it below the covers.
With respect to getting hit on one of the front wheels by an overtaking vehicle... that's a tough one. They are WIDE!! my best advice is to maintain awareness of those around you especially to the rear. You might have a chance to make a preventative maneuver to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, there's always that Knucklehead that's in such a fuc**ing hurry they side swipe you anyways!!
Oh well...