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The SMART Tire Company did not go out of business after Shark Tank Season 13—but it also did not get a Shark deal. The company is still developing METL, its shape-memory-alloy airless bicycle tire, and currently says it expects to launch in Q4 2026. Its website shows a 2026 wait list rather than normal retail availability.
The SMART Tire Company did not go out of business after appearing on Shark Tank Season 13—but it also did not leave the show with a Shark deal. The startup is still developing its flagship METL airless bicycle tire and says its expected launch is now in Q4 2026. Its website currently shows a 2026 wait list, not a normal retail checkout.
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That makes the most accurate update more nuanced than either “the company failed” or “METL is now widely available.” The SMART Tire Company survived the show, continued fundraising and prototype development, and pursued automotive, aerospace, space, and micromobility applications. However, its consumer product timeline has stretched substantially beyond the earlier delivery expectations promoted by the company.
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Did The SMART Tire Company get a deal on Shark Tank?
No. The founders appeared before the Sharks with guest Shark Kevin Hart and reportedly asked for $500,000 in exchange for 2.5% of the company. They left the episode without an investment deal.
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- Model: MG-CRBT-24; Bike Tire Smooth Riding Replacement Tire with Tire Lever for Folding Bike Urban Commuter Bike Kids Bike Tricycle etc.
- Tire Specifications: 24 x 1.5" (40-507mm); Inflate to 40 - 55 P.S.I, 3.5 BAR (350 kPa). Weight MAX. Load 75kg (165lbs). Please check your old tire size and make sure to choose correct tire size before you purchase.
- Package List: Outer tire x 2; Inner tube x 2; Tire lever removal tool x 2. Please make sure all parts are included when you receive package, we provide excellent customer service, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
- Optimized Street‑Focused Tread Pattern for Pavement Riding: Center continuous low‑profile siping delivers low rolling resistance for fast, smooth riding on asphalt & concrete roads. No bulky knobs, cuts down pedaling effort for daily commutes.
- Shoulder Anti‑Slip Grooves for Wet‑Weather Safety: Angled side tread channels water away on damp pavement. Offers reliable cornering grip during rainy days, prevents slipping on wet city streets. Designed for street use, not for heavy off‑road muddy trails.
The appearance still provided significant publicity. In its own post-show account, the company said the episode reached approximately four million viewers. But publicity is not the same as Shark-backed financing. The SMART Tire Company’s later crowdfunding campaigns and investor activity should not be described as investments from Kevin Hart or another Shark unless a separate, documented deal is established.
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Did the company receive a Shark Tank deal? | No documented deal; the founders left without one. |
| Is the company still operating? | Yes, available evidence indicates ongoing operations and fundraising. |
| What is its main consumer product? | METL, an airless bicycle tire using shape-memory-alloy technology. |
| Can you buy METL normally today? | Not as a confirmed, ordinary retail product. |
| When does the company currently expect to launch? | Q4 2026, according to its latest official FAQ. |
What is METL?
METL is designed as an alternative to a conventional pneumatic bicycle tire. Instead of depending on an air-filled chamber, the tire uses a structure based on a shape-memory alloy. Earlier company technical materials identify the material as Nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy known for its ability to flex and return toward its original shape.
The company’s intended benefit is straightforward: a tire that does not depend on air pressure should not suffer ordinary air leaks, punctures, tears, or the need for liquid sealant in the same way as a standard pneumatic tire. Its tread design is intended to provide a balance of durability and grip.
That concept is different from a basic solid bicycle tire. Solid tires can eliminate flats, but they may introduce trade-offs such as a harsher ride, additional weight, or higher rolling resistance. The SMART Tire Company’s pitch is that a flexible metal structure can provide some of the compliance of an air tire without requiring an air chamber.
Those are product objectives and company claims—not independent proof that a production METL tire will last indefinitely, outperform every pneumatic tire, or deliver a particular range or rolling-resistance result. The available research does not establish broad production validation, independent consumer testing, certification, or general customer experience.
Is the METL bicycle tire available to buy?
Not as a confirmed, normally stocked retail product at the time of the latest available information. The company’s official cycling page displays a “2026 Wait List,” while its FAQ says METL is expected to launch in Q4 2026. That indicates the site is collecting prospective customer interest rather than fulfilling ordinary retail orders.
If you are searching for the METL bicycle tire, treat any current listing or advertisement claiming immediate standard delivery cautiously unless it can be verified directly with The SMART Tire Company. The available material does not establish that METL is currently sold through Amazon or another major retailer.
What happened to the earlier 2024 delivery promise?
The company’s 2023 year-end review said its Kickstarter project was fully funded in 15 minutes and that deliveries would begin in June 2024. Its later official FAQ now points to Q4 2026, so the 2024 statement should be treated as an outdated projection.
That change does not, by itself, prove that the company abandoned the project or that every backer was left without a product. The available sources do not provide a complete fulfillment breakdown. It would therefore be inaccurate to claim either that all Kickstarter backers received their tires in June 2024 or that none of them received anything.
Why has METL taken so long to launch?
The company is attempting to commercialize a new type of tire rather than simply place an existing rubber-and-air design into a different package. A successful product must balance several difficult requirements at once:
- Ride comfort and compliance comparable with what cyclists expect from an air tire.
- Grip and tread durability in real-world conditions.
- Resistance to fatigue, damage, and long-term deformation.
- Manufacturing consistency at a commercially viable cost.
- Compatibility with wheels, bikes, and intended riding environments.
The company says it is refining a fifth-generation gravel prototype and plans to use NASA modeling before launch. It has also described lab and field testing, manufacturing-process development, and work on an electric-scooter tire.
Those details are consistent with an extended engineering and manufacturing process. They do not prove a specific cause such as a cash crisis, supplier dispute, regulatory block, or internal failure. No definitive explanation for every delay is established by the available sources.
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- Specifications: Size: 16 x 1-3/8 inch; Inflate to 50-80 P.S.I, 3.4-5.5 Bar, 345-550 KPA. This tire reduces the contact surface with the ground, reducing the impact of the road surface, and is lighter, allowing for faster cycling speeds.
- Flat & Fine Thread Pattern: Low rolling resistance makes riding more effortless. Thin tires provide less air resistance, further improving riding efficiency. Asymmetrical arrow arrangement for better drainage.
- The embedded high-quality steel wire structure enables the tire to have greater durability and wear resistance. Whether on city streets, or beach coasts, this tire can handle various terrains with ease and has a long service life.
- Born for Daily Cycling: The size of 16 x 1-3/8 makes this tire easy to steer, more suitable for city riding, combines comfort and durability, and is more flexible to navigate city streets during daily commutes.
- Package List: Outer tire x 2; Tire lever removal tool x 2. Please make sure to choose correct tire size before you purchase. You can check the size marked on the edge of your previous tire and choose the same size.
Is The SMART Tire Company still in business?
Yes. The company’s website remains active, its product pages continue to collect interest, and its SEC-filed materials document additional fundraising activity. A 2025 Form C describes a Regulation Crowdfunding offering involving The SMART Tire Company and Wefunder-related co-issuers.
That is evidence of continued corporate and financing activity. It is not evidence that the company is profitable or that METL has achieved mass-market sales.
What do the company’s finances show?
The company’s audited financial materials state that it had not generated profits since inception and had negative operating cash flow for the reported period. That financial position is not unusual for an early-stage hardware company still funding research, prototyping, tooling, and manufacturing development. It does, however, matter when assessing claims that the business has already become a successful commercial tire manufacturer.
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Fundraising can keep a company operating while a product is being developed. It does not mean the business is profitable, that all crowdfunding obligations have been completed, or that a mass-production agreement exists.
What has the company done since Shark Tank?
1. It continued raising money
After the television appearance, The SMART Tire Company used equity crowdfunding and later SEC-filed offerings to finance development. The company’s investor activity shows that it continued seeking capital rather than disappearing after its unsuccessful Shark Tank pitch.
2. It continued iterating on the tire
The current company description refers to a fifth-generation gravel prototype. Earlier updates discussed testing on bicycles and other vehicles, laboratory and field work, manufacturing development, and an electric-scooter application.
The company also says its underlying technology has been tested on rovers, automobiles, and bicycles. That should be understood as a statement about development and testing stages, not proof that a finished, consumer-ready METL tire is already in widespread service.
3. It broadened its ambitions beyond bicycles
METL is presented as the first consumer-facing application of a broader shape-memory-alloy tire platform. The company has discussed potential uses in:
- Bicycles and electric scooters.
- Automotive tires.
- Fleet and micromobility vehicles.
- Aerospace applications.
- Space and rover tires.
A November 2024 company update described a car-tire prototype effort involving Hyundai Motor Group and said discussions were ongoing. It also referred to prototypes and discussions connected with Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis-related work.
That is meaningful business-development activity, but it should not be overstated. The available evidence does not establish that Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, NASA, or another major organization has placed a mass-production order or awarded the company a major space-flight contract.
Earlier company materials also discussed aerospace clients, space-tire patent activity, an Environmental Protection Agency sustainability grant, and manufacturing conversations. These indicate interest and continued development—not guaranteed recurring revenue or a completed commercial partnership.
What does the company’s automotive work mean for car buyers?
For now, it does not mean that a SMART Tire Company airless tire is available as an aftermarket replacement for a passenger car. The company’s public consumer launch information is still centered on the bicycle product, and the automotive work remains at the prototype and partnership-development stage described in the available materials.
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- Slick tread and 30 TPI casing reduce rolling resistance for smooth, quiet rides—suited for city bike users and adult road bikes alike on asphalt.
- This foldable 26 x 1.95 bike tires set features Kevlar bead and rubber compound for flexibility and road grip during daily commutes or weekend fitness rides.
- Conforms to ETRTO 50-559 26x1.95 bike tire standards—fits 26 inch bike wheels, hybrid bikes, and mountain bikes|for men and woman
- Lightweight at 630g per tire, designed for speed and handling on pavement. Great for road bike tires, mountain bike tire, or mountian bike training setups.
- Fits mountain bike wheels and 26 inch electric bike frames. Compatible with bike trainer stands and setups using standard mtb accessories.
In theory, an airless automotive tire could reduce some risks associated with punctures and pressure loss. In practice, a road-going car tire would need to satisfy demanding requirements involving ride quality, handling, noise, heat, high-speed durability, load capacity, wheel compatibility, manufacturing tolerances, and regulatory approval. The dossier does not establish that those requirements have been completed for a production automotive tire.
What can you buy while waiting for METL?
Cyclists who need a flat-resistant option today can consider conventional alternatives such as puncture-resistant pneumatic tires, tire sealant, a spare tube, a bicycle repair kit, or a portable pump. Generic airless or solid bicycle tires may also be available from other manufacturers.
Those products should not be described as METL equivalents. Ordinary solid and airless tires can use different materials and constructions, with different effects on comfort, grip, weight, rolling resistance, and installation. A repair kit or pump solves the maintenance problem in a conventional pneumatic system; it is not part of The SMART Tire Company’s product line.
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The SMART Tire Company is best described as an active but still pre-commercial or early-commercial hardware startup, not a defunct Shark Tank business and not a proven mass-market tire manufacturer.
Its story since Season 13 has four parts:
- It appeared on Shark Tank seeking $500,000 for 2.5% equity.
- It left without a Shark investment, although the episode generated publicity.
- It continued raising capital, developing prototypes, and pursuing industry applications.
- Its expected METL bicycle-tire launch moved from an earlier June 2024 delivery projection to Q4 2026, with a wait list currently shown on the official site.
So, if the question is “Did The SMART Tire Company disappear?” the answer is no. If the question is “Can I buy a fully launched METL tire today?” the answer is also not yet—not based on the latest official availability information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did The SMART Tire Company get a deal on Shark Tank?
No. The founders appeared on Shark Tank Season 13 with guest Shark Kevin Hart, sought $500,000 for 2.5% equity, and left without a documented Shark investment.
Can I buy the METL tire now?
The latest official information says METL is expected to launch in Q4 2026. The company’s cycling page currently shows a 2026 wait list rather than a standard retail checkout.
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The company says METL uses shape-memory-alloy technology, with earlier technical materials identifying Nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy. It is intended to flex without relying on an air chamber.
Is The SMART Tire Company still in business?
The company remains active according to its website, crowdfunding activity, SEC-filed offering materials, and continuing prototype and partnership updates. Continued operation does not mean the company is profitable.
Is SMART Tire making airless tires for cars?
The company has discussed automotive, aerospace, space, bicycle, scooter, and micromobility applications. Its reported Hyundai-related work involves prototypes and ongoing discussions, not a confirmed mass-production order.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The SMART Tire Company is still operating, but it did not get a deal on Shark Tank and METL is not yet a confirmed, ordinary retail product. The company’s latest official materials say it is refining a fifth-generation prototype, maintaining a 2026 wait list, and targeting a Q4 2026 launch. Its automotive, aerospace, space, and micromobility work remains development and partnership activity rather than proof of mass production or profitability.
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