Why Do Metros Use Rubber Tires? 

How can you say riis "a lot cheaper"? They have to deploy the concrete roadbed AND rails if there's a flat tire. The roadbed is more complex with rails AND concrete running platform. Rail only systems can be deployed in pre-fab sections and laid down quickly. These have to be poured in place.

A very interesting point to note is that the Lyon Metro in France uses rubber wheels, with the exception of their line C. This line goes up very steep grades (a 17% incline), but uses steel wheels with a rack and cog, so I recommend building cog railway systems instead of rubber tire metros when it comes to steep grades and efficiency.

There's something that you did not mention that's a big factor on why some cities choose rubber tires for their metros, and that's earthquakes. In both Mexico City and Santiago de Chile, for example, part of the reason to choose rubber was the intense earthquakes the cities suffer, as rubber bounces better (thus generally sustaining less damage and being less likely to de-rail), during an earthquake, or so I've been told. You can look up 'sismos en el metro cdmx' to see what I'm talking about.

RM Transit made some good videos on this... Basically this was advantageous in 60s and 70s for metros with close stations and/or steep inclines, but nowadays with better technologies, rubber wheel train is only useful for extremely niche scenarios at best. While I do have a weird penchant for the smell of rubber tires, I can't imagine most would fancy such smell...

Thanks for the video, when i went to mexico city, i just wondered how did the circuit worked, because with conventional metros the supply current with third rail or ohle, goes in and then returns via the running rail, with the metro in mexico city, i didnt know how the circuit was completed, Its cool how a compressed shoe is pressed in the inner steel rails to return the current.

Two things, firstly they are not more quiet. And second, construction costs are not lower. The guideways contain the same old metal rail with all the rest of the components like tie plates, rail clips, etc... in addition to the concrete guideway for the rubber tires. There is a regular metal train wheel on the inside next to the tires. These are required for turnouts and in case there is a flat tire, as the metal wheels usually rides just above or making very light contact with the rail. The vehicles are more of a niche product that also contains extra components and complexity thus making them more expensive and require greater maintenance. You can get equally quick acceleration with lighter train cars and powerful motors with good slip control. (something BART has more or less done from day one, although arguably rainy days seem to argue against this) Also there is a compromise with adhesion and efficiency in the metal wheel profile (shape). BART uses a fairly flat wheel head which has a greater surface contact area giving them better acceleration and braking and stability at high speeds. (same basic profile as the Shinkansen) The tradeoff is a little more energy use and noise.

Rubber tire systems will never be more than a niche-use product. It's universally accepted that Steel is the only way to go today. Plus globally there are just far more companies and investment that has been pushed into the development of rail systems. So availability for parts, choice of customizations available, available competition for bids between manufacturers etc... are all far more plentiful than they are for rubber tire systems. Plus you can have longer, larger, and heavier trains with a steel rail set up, than with tires. This just flat out means you can have a larger seating capacity per train as well as more space for legroom and headroom. Tire-based systems have more disadvantages than they do advantages. Yes, more grip. But at higher speeds rail actually is quieter and again as a result of less friction, far more efficient. In addition to this, you can maintain higher speeds with steel wheels without having to worry about heat build-up or steel belt failure happening like in a tire. Tires certainly have their place. They fit very specific situations very well. But for a train, steel is the only way to go for 99% of all cities. The tire-based systems that do exist today will likely be all that you really ever see as those specific cities need a niche-like product. Much like a Cog Railway is a very niche train purpose-built for a specific type of situation of climbing very steep grades. Again has it's place in the world. But it's not ideal for almost any other type of everyday situation. 🙂

Paris uses a combo of steel wheels and tires. It allowes the tires to be used on steep slopes and steel on other parts. The supporting ledge on wich the tires ride differ in height along the track allowing the traction to go from tire to steel and back, without mechanical intervention.

I never even knew some metros have rubber tires😵‍💫💀

Here's another interesting fact: The Montreal metro uses wooden brakes soaked in peanut oil. This is true even for the more recent Azur train sets.

It seems that tire trains have more disadvantages than advantages.

Actually in Mexico City have a two lines with railroad wheels, the Line A and the infamous Line 12, one is short (A), and the other is long (12) as many other in the city (neumatic as 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and B. This ones across all the city side by side; and the city is very long).

For the cost of tires in France when the first prototype of rubber tyre train has been built they had a collaboration to reduce cost of tyre.

I agree to what you say except Stm has some machine that added a new layer of rubber when the threads of the tire finish so it can give a longer life than noisy Exxo trains

I live in Montréal and I've used metros in several cities around the world. I hate trains on tires. They're so loud! And they vibrate a lot more (you can't manufacture perfectly round tires (compared to machined steel wheels) and it gets even worse under load). But apart from the tire system, I love Montréal's métro.

Steel wheels + linear induction motors = the best of both worlds (and some)!

This is underrated content

Sorry that this video took a while - was making the vid in very little spare time. Sources for the video are listed in the description, I used a lot of wikimedia commons photos as stock. Curious to hear your thoughts on Rubber vs. Steel. As I said, I like steel more because it's much more sustainable and doesn't need as much energy once moving.

Taipei, Taiwan also uses rubber tired trains on their Brown / Wenhu line

Given the historical involvement of Michelin in early rubber-tired train designs, I suspect that French politics has played an inordinate role in the adoption of the technology. Every proposed advantage of the technology seems to come with a countering disadvantage. For example, reduced station spacing also reduces average speed while greatly increasing cost per mile, as stations are costly because they occupy valuable surface real estate. LRT can accommodate grades of at least 5%, which is as steep as a freeway.

Having lived in Montreal for about 2 months, I love rubber-tyred metros. The feeling of riding the Montreal metro can be described as a slightly out of control, bouncy roller coaster. It’s fast and furious and you get used to it.

In Mexico City we use rubber tires because they have less impact on our watered soil. We have two lines with steel wheels and both have a greater mantenience cost than the rubber ones due to track deformation.

They are entirely more quiet than steel tires dude. Have you been to Brooklyn before? I could not believe how loud the trains on the tracks were there.

Actually I think it uses both.

Singapore has these things called LRT (actual name is people movers ) they have rubber tires actually

Montreal, Paris , Mexico city AND SANITAIGO CHILE ;-)

Steel wheels with linear motors could work quite well, since linear motors' acceleration isn't restricted by friction.

I've noticed the rubber wheels on Montreal but never really thought much about it. How long will a rubber wheel last before it needs to be replaced, when compared to steel? I would think more often, but I also think a rubber wheel is cheaper than steel wheels, so the comparable costs will take some calculating. I also assume rubber metro tires are solid rubber, not something you inflate, so flat tires between metro stations isn't likely.

bro forget that Sapporo also have one.

BANGER

Sapporo’s metro system is similar to Montreal but it has some unique features.

Why not do a hybrid? have traditional steel rails and steel wheels, they could be raised/lowered as needed, lower for acceleration, going up hill, downhill, and emergency braking, raise for coasting and pretty much everything else

Surprisingly engaging for a 500 subs channel, hope you get big

Thanks for the info, Apu!

I think hillier and earthquake prone cities chose rubber tire metros because rubber tire are more flexible and gripper.

Great video and great editing!

Why can't train wheels be coated with solid nylon? Quiet, wears slower and 100% recyclable.

So a few wheels made of rubbr and the rest are nornal

What we need is the massive adoption of passive maglev which the Chinese just recently added to their Skytrain suspended monorail system... It reduces energy and noise and obviously wear and tear on the guideway since none exists!

But it looks cool

Montreal’s transit system actually has a retreading shop for the buses. Not sure if they also retread the metro. With buses they follow a strict protocol and only let the tires on the road for a limited amount of use before they are taken back to the shop. It’s better for the environment.

yoo i also went to montreal during the summer and found it really interesting how their metro system has rubber tires and no a/c as well. hmm. but the new models felt pretty futuristic compared to what we have in NYC. this is really good insight

Really? Rubber wheels are quietter than steel? Personally i find trains to be way quietter than driving a car, but are metroes different?

uhh interesting

Rubber tired Metros use rubber and steel wheels! Rubber for starting and stopping and steel rails for speed! You only told half the story!!

The Rubber Tyres on the Trains makes them look a bit Ugly compared to the Metal Wheels on Most Trains

real men don't use rubber!