History Of Tyres And Tyre Development

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