Could cars be designed with extra large donut tires filled with helium to make them lighter and more fuel effi

Question

-cient?

Answer 1

Well, though helium is lighter than oxygen, the difference in weight is so insignificant in comparison to the overall weight of the car that the difference, if any, wouldn't be noticeable.

Answer 2

No traction would result in accidents.  A much easier way to accomplish the same thing would be to put very thin tires on a car (like Model T tires).  You would also have unsufficient traction to turn and stop at high speeds with those.   That is one thing that hypermilers do - put too much air in their tires so that not much tire makes contact with the surface of the road.

Answer 3

not without reducing traction and stability for safety.

Answer 4

Helium doesn't really have enough lifting power to make a big difference.  To get an average person off the ground would take about 8,000 regular-sized helium balloons. And of course a car weighs much more than a person.  Even with giant monster truck tires, you would see little difference.  Way to think outside the box though.  Keep at it.  

Answer 5

Great Idea, we could also make the cars out of rubber and that way they would just bounce if they run into something.

Answer 6

The only thing I know about helium is that it goes in balloons.

Answer 7

Good thinking! The idea is trash, but you have the right mind set!  There are tuns of ways to shave tuns of weight off of cars. mostly by, instead of finding something lighter then air to put in, find stuff you can leave out. or make it out of liter stuff.  use composites instead of steel for the body, carbon fiber instead of steel for the chasis.  pick apart every part of the car and ask if and how it can be made liter.

Answer 8

Mass still doesn't change. The same work of overcoming inertia will require energy be expended.

Answer 9

At which point you find that the extra large tyres are heavier than standard ones.

The air in a tyre is not very heavy compared to the tyre (though for safety reasons it does need to be inflated to the right pressure).