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.

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Successful Car Tire Inventions

Since the wheel has been invented, it has been used in many of our motor vehicles throughout history. Wheels enable automobile users to propel a car in a direction, as well as control the angle in which it turns. One of the most successful car tire inventions was treads. Treads have allowed tires to remain stable on various different terrains automobile users may travel on. Treads help the tires to remain on the road and in control by generating a force we call friction. Friction allows our tires to grip onto the road and maintain control and safely turn our motor vehicles without sliding or slipping. Treads have been designed to utilize what common roads are made of as well, which is asphalt. Asphalt is a rough road and contains tiny bumps, which makes it easier for treads to grip onto the road. Treads have been improved over the years, making it so gripping the road is easier. Treads now form a zig-zag shape, which is designed to create more friction on the road in order to grip it properly. Treads have continued to make roads a safe place for all drivers to use, and have prevented numerous accidents over the years. However there are some flaws with treads, but they can be easily prevented through regular maintenance. Over time, treads will wear out due to the force of friction on them. Treads are made of rubber, making it susceptible to wear and tear on the road. This makes it important to replace them every few years. Replacing your tires every few years will prevent any injury on the roadway. Even though tires can be quite expensive, it does not amount to the cost that would result from a vehicular collision.

Rims for car tires have been another successful and popular invention due to usefulness as well as a cosmetic aspect. Rims have been admired throughout automotive history mainly because of their usefulness in helping the wheels function properly. The rims of a car help the wheel keep its integrity and keep the rubber treads in place. Rims are also designed to help stabilize the wheel and give it strength when driving. Rims are often made out of aluminum, a cheap yet strong metal. Over the years rims have been perfected in order to protect the wheels and keep them stable, as well as being resistant from rust. Rims are often made of an alloy, which is two metals combined which is often used to prevent a metal from rusting. However, there have been design flaws within the structure of a rim. While it does fit inside the tire perfectly, rims are often prone to falling off of the vehicle suddenly and resulting in damage to your or other drivers cars. Rims have also been a popular cosmetic choice among motor vehicle users. Rims are able to be customized in many sizes, as well as different colors. A popular modification choice for rims is chrome. Chrome makes the rims of a car shine brightly because chrome is a highly reflective surface.

Another popular and successful car tire invention is the spinning rim attachment. A spinning rim attachment rotates as the car moves, and when the car comes to a stop, the rims continue to rotate. This creates the illusion that the car is still traveling, and can be a very interesting sight for the driver and other drivers on the road. Over the years, the wheel has continued to improve and the future holds many more modifications that can help improve the look and safety of the wheel.

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