un-useful?!?!?!?
ARND, imagine that design with even softer spokes, MT tread and and a little rubber for side walls!!! You couldn't get a flat tire! and you wouldn't have to worry about getting anything stuck in the spokes.
I saw them on TV and the biggest issue is current tire manufacturer push back, and high speed road noise... which to me makes the off road industry first to get them.
With that concept you could also have much more design control over your contact patch because you could change where and how the spokes are stiff.
That design is not production worthy at this point but i think it's absolutely fascinating.... i'd love to see where it is in 5 years.