How’s the braking performance? Wouldn’t the tennis balls function as a kind of high-friction ball bearing, and allow the outer tire to slip when stopping?
The balls are inserted into PVC rings, which are screwed to the hub, so they can't move. (In my mind this also means that the tire is made of PVC rings and that the balls serve more as decoration, but hey)
Exactly! Surprised I had to read this far down for anyone to realize that little detail. To be fair, the balls kind of spread the covering tire out beyond the rings...
I'm concerned about the tire slipping off on a corner, too.
Yep, that was my thought has well, certainly the in video they didn't show any type of turning with any amount of lean into it where this would have been an issue.