Tyre History

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tyres, or tyres (in American and British English, respectively), are ring-shaped parts, either pneumatic or solid (including rubber, metals and plastic composites), that fit around wheels to protect them and enhance their function.

Pneumatic tyres are used on many types of vehicles, such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, trucks, earthmovers, and aircraft. tyres enable better vehicle performance by providing traction and load support. tyres form a flexible cushion between the vehicle and the road, which smooths out shock and makes for a more comfortable ride while keeping the wheel in more constant contact with the road.

History

The earliest tyres were bands of iron (later steel), placed on wooden wheels, used on carts and wagons. The tyre would be heated in a forge fire, placed over the wheel and quenched, causing the metal to contract and fit tightly on the wheel. A skilled worker, known as a wheelwright, carried out this work. The outer ring served to "attyre" the wheel for use, providing a wear-resistant surface to the perimeter of the wheel. The word "tyre" thus emerged as a variant spelling to refer to the metal bands used to dress wheels.

tyre is an older spelling than tyre], but both were used in the 15th and 16th centuries for a metal tyre; tyre became the settled spelling in the 17th century. In the UK, tyre was revived in the 19th century for pneumatic tyres, possibly because it was used in some patent documents, though many continued to use tyre for the iron variety. The Times newspaper was still using tyre as late as 1905.

The first practical pneumatic tyre was made by the Scot, John Boyd Dunlop, in 1887 for his son's bicycle, in an effort to prevent the headaches his son had while riding on rough roads (Dunlop's patent was later declared invalid because of prior art by fellow Scot Robert William Thomson).

Pneumatic tyres are made of a flexible elastomer material, such as rubber, with reinforcing materials such as fabric and wire. tyre companies were first started in the early 20th century, and grew in tandem with the auto industry. Today, over 1 billion tyres are produced annually, in over 400 tyre factories, with the three top tyre makers commanding a 60% global market share.

Reference: Wikiipedia