The modern tyre we
take for granted is very different from when it all started; this will be an
overview of the key points in the history of tyres and tyre
development.
Where did the name
tyre come from?
Going back in history,
initially a craftsman known as wheelwright forged bands of iron & steel,
tying the wheel segments together as the metal contracted around the wheel.
Hence the name, tyre, as it tied the wheel together. This was then placed on wooden
wheels of carts and wagons.
Rubber tyre
development
Explorers had seen
Indians using sheets of rubber for waterproofing and in the 1800’s, Charles
Mcintosh was experimenting with this latex – sap from a tree in the Amazon. It
had its problems as the cold weather caused it to be brittle whilst in hot
weather they became sticky. However, in 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered that
by adding sulphur to the melted latex it gave elasticity and strength. This
vulcanised rubber was used to as cushion tyres for cycles.
The pneumatic rubber
tyre
John Dunlop, trying to
make his son’s bicycle more comfortable to ride on, managed to invent the
pneumatic tyre. Another person, Robert Thomson, had already patented the idea
of a pneumatic rubber tyre so the Dunlop Rubber Company was established and won
a legal battle with Thomson. In 1891, the detachable pneumatic tyre was
invented by two brothers, Michelin, consisting of a tube bolted on to the
rim.
Radial tyres
In 1948, Michelin
revealed the first radial tyre was developed and this was a revolutionary
achievement as it used steel-belted radial tyres. The advantages meant longer
life and increased mileage for the vehicle. However, it required a different
suspension system and so was slowly adopted. This was the tyre along with
Dunlop’s invention, which gives us the tyre we have today.
The future of tyres
We have seen heavy
tyre development, especially in motorsport, however we are yet to see anything
as revolutionary as previous key points in history. There have been concepts,
with a major one being the Michelin Tweel announced in 2005.
Timeline of the key
points in the history of tyres:
§ 1840’s: Charles Goodyear invents vulcanised
rubber and Robert William Thomson patents the vulcanised rubber pneumatic tyre
§ 1880’s: John Dunlop invents pneumatic tyres
for bicycles. The public awareness came from a Belfast Cycle Race which was won
on pneumatic rubber tyres.
§ 1890’s: CK Welsh patents the design of a wheel
rim and outer cover with inextensible lip. Andre Michelin uses pneumatic tyres
on an automobile.
§ 1903: Paul Weeks Litchfield patents tubeless
tyre. He rose to become the chairman of Goodyear in the year 1940.
§ 1904: Mountable rims were introduced that
allowed drivers to fix their own flats.
§ 1908: Frank Seiberling invented grooved tires
with improved road traction.
§ 1910: B.F. Goodrich invents longer life tires
by adding carbon to the rubber.
§ 1911: Philip Strauss invents the first
successful automobile tyre, which was a combination tyre and air filled inner
tube. Strauss’ company the Hardman Tyre & Rubber Company marketed the
tires.
§ 1937: B.F. Goodrich invents the first
synthetic rubber tires and patents a substance called “Chemigum”
§ 1948: Michelin patents the radial tyre
§ 1954: First original equipment tubeless tyre
fitted to the now defunct Packard.
§ 1974: Pirelli introduces the wide
radial tyre
