Your question is very valid and IMHO will go unanswered until someone is "bold enough" too take a car tire mounted to a cycle rim, aired up to 40+PSI and subject it to a CT Scan at some Clinic or Medical Facility. That would definitely provide "proof positive" by giving a "cross sectioned view" of a "inflated" tire/rim fitting. Hopefully, amongst all the DS Riders, we have someone who will answer that question. Unfortunate as it may be, the cross sectioned pics provided to date are not truly reflective of a "inflated tire" The original author of the article surely deserves credit for his efforts in "sectioning" both a donor tire/rim. Without evidence of inflation there's some additional research to be done