Peterson's Cushioned Air-Track
In the late 1960s, Buster Peterson and his Special Services crew experimented with the beadless tire concept which was later patented and then purchased by Caterpillar. The prototype was on a 950 loader with special track rails bolted to extra wide shoes which wrapped around the tires. It was designed to protect the tires, especially in harsh applications like quarries, and provide improved
traction. Caterpillar's version - the Dystread - incorporated a similar design which later evolved into their Beadless Tire.