At GIE+EXPO 2015, John Deere allowed visitors the chance to test out Deere ride on mowers fitted with Michelin's Tweel technology. Our editors took the opportunity to try it out.

The product was chosen from more than 1,150 new product ideas submitted from 60 countries. The 22 winners and honorable mentions were judged on innovation, manufacturability and marketability.

Piedmont, S.C., is the site of Michelin's new state-of-the-art facility making the Michelin X Tweel airless radial tire.

Michelin has been showing off its idea of combining the wheel and tire into a single component as far back as 2005. Dubbed the Tweel, the novel design replaced standard pneumatic tires and metal wheels with deforming spokes around a hub. While uses of the Tweel are still limited, the tech is about to get a big upgrade in production with Michelin opening a dedicated factory to build them in Piedmont, SC, on November 20.

John Deere and Michelin Tweel Technologies today announce the new Michelin X Tweel Turf for commercial ZTrak mowers during GIE+EXPO 2014.

Michelin announced today it will expand the market footprint for its airless skid steer tires with the launch of two new versions of the award-winning MICHELIN X TWEEL SSL airless radial tire: a 12N16.5 X TWEEL SSL All Terrain for a wide range of surfaces and a12N16.5 X TWEEL SSL Hard Surface for pavement use.