Steel, a cornerstone of modern civilization, underpins various aspects of our intricate world. Despite its ubiquity, steel’s utility encounters limitations in certain applications. Take, for instance, the venerable invention of the wheel, which was reliant on rubber for traction. While the wheel’s structure remains steadfastly metallic, its interaction with the road necessitates the intervention of rubber tires.
Yet, exceptions challenge this conventional wisdom, as certain scenarios demand alternatives. Could, perhaps, rubber tires yield an unexpected substitute – nails? This audacious question prompted curious minds, particularly from the innovative quarters of the Far East, to ponder the viability of such a proposition.
Venturing beyond theoretical musings, the intrepid minds at Garage 54, based in Novosibirsk, Southern Siberia, started on a practical exploration of this concept. Utilizing approximately 12,000 carpenter’s nails, each six inches long, they fashioned four makeshift 16-inch ‘tires’ for their Mercedes G-Wagen, destined for off-road trials.
The results were as intriguing as they were unconventional. Initially, the robust nail tires displayed promise, particularly on snow-covered terrain. Yet, their performance soon waned under the weight of reality – quite literally. The nails, designed for connectivity rather than load-bearing, succumbed to the vehicle’s mass, rendering the experiment a fascinating, albeit impractical, endeavor.