The Early History of Tires

Can you imagine what life would be like if tires were not invented? There would not be any cars, bikes, or ATV’s just to name a few items. It turns out that there over 400 tire companies in business today. These companies produce over 1 billion tires a year. Tire companies are the major consumer of natural rubber. The top 5 tire companies in business today are Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, and Pirelli. These are in the order of their sales. Bridgestone has the most tire sales.

The first practical tire was made by John Boyd Dunlop in 1887. He made it for his son’s tricycle. It was the first practical pneumatic or inflatable tire ever made. He got a patent in 1888. But two years after he officially received his patent, he lost it. It turned out that Robert Thomson, a Scottish inventor had already patented the idea in 1846. But Dunlop’s tire was produced commercially in 1890. Dunlop later partnered with William Du Cross to form a company that would later become the Dunlop Rubber Company. Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber in 1844. He received two patents, one for making rubber easier to work with and one for the vulcanized rubber. Vulcanized rubber would later be made into tires. Vulcanization is a process that is used to cure rubber. Charles Goodyear spent 10 years developing the process. Charles was bankrupt by the time he died. He had spent all of his money making his invention. He even spent time in jail for not paying a creditor for rubber he had purchased. He died a poor man. Forty years went by before a man named Frank Seiberling started The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company named for Charles Goodyear. He later became famous for his fair treatment of workers.

In 1845 Robert William Thomson invented the first vulcanized rubber pneumatic tire made for a car. The tire was a quality tire but it did not catch on though because it was too expensive at the time to make it. In 1895 a gentleman named Andre’ Michelin was the first person to use pneumatic tires on a car. It was not successful. A few years later in 1888 he and his brother Edouard started the Michelin Tire Company. They are still in business today.

Back in 1903, P.W. Litchfield of the Goodyear Tire Company received a patent for the first tubeless tire. It was not used commercially until the production of the 1954 Packard. Then in 1904, mountable rims were introduced. This let drivers fix their own flat tires. This was a major advancement. In 1908 Frank Seiberling of the Goodyear Rubber and Tire Company, invented and received a patent for the first all-weather tread tires. They had a diamond design that improved traction. They were the first grooved tires. Another company with a long history is BF Goodrich Tire Company. They were quick to develop their own pneumatic tire for cars in 1895. They also were able to make a longer lasting tire by adding carbon to the rubber. Because of the war natural rubber was hard to come by so in 1927 they invented the first synthetic rubber tire. In 1946 they sold their first tubeless tire.

The history of tires is still evolving today. Just a recently as 1977, Goodyear developed the first all season radial and in 2001 they made a tire made from corn by-products. Tire companies are always developing new ways to make tires safer and last longer. Used tires have been a problem for years. There have been new developments that take used tires and turn them into other products. This will keep them out of landfills. These are just some of the new ideas out there.

 Do you have an idea for an invention?