Pneumatic Tires
The majority of tires utilized in contemporary times are considered to be pneumatic tires. The utilization of rubber in tires enabled the invention of pneumatic tires which allowed for a much more comfortable ride. The contemporary transportation system of the world completely relies on pneumatic tires.
A pneumatic tire is a kind of tire constructed of reinforced rubber and filled with compressed air. Motorized vehicles including trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles and airplanes all use pneumatic tires. Non-motorized wheeled vehicles, like for example bicycles, also use pneumatic tires.
History
The history of tires starts with the creation of iron bands around wooden wheels. The use of solid rubber in the creation of tires began in the mid-19th century. The very first patent for a successful pneumatic tire was issued in the year 1888 to Irishman John Dunlop who created an inner-tube for a bicycle tire. This was when the word "pneumatic" appeared to describe tires.
In the year 1895, Andre and Edouard Michelin produced the first pneumatic tires for cars in France. The Michelin brothers' company was destined to become a top producer of tires for cars. The first company in the United States to produce tires was Goodyear Tire company founded in the year 1898, followed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber company in the year 1900, the second United States company to make tires.
Function
A rubber inner tube was used in all pneumatic tires in the first half of the 20th century to help hold the air pressure. Tires were constructed of reinforced layers of cord or plies covered with rubber. The plies were laid on a bias or angle to strengthen it and to define the tire's shape. These "bias ply" tires had a tread pattern for traction.
Modern radial tires are made with the plies running at 90 degrees across the body of the tire. Inner tube is not required as the tire forms an airtight seal with the wheel. This was a creation of the Michelin company in the year 1948. The tires did not become widely utilized until the latter parts of the 1970s. Radial tires last longer and offer better fuel economy.