Pneumatic Tires
Most tires utilized in contemporary times are considered to be pneumatic tires. The utilization of rubber in tires allowed the invention of pneumatic tires which allowed for a more comfortable ride. The world's contemporary transportation system depends entirely on pneumatic tires.
A pneumatic tire is a tire made of reinforced rubber and filled with compressed air. Motorized vehicles including airplanes, motorcycles, trucks, buses and cars all utilize pneumatic tires. Non-motorized wheeled vehicles, like for instance bicycles, also utilize pneumatic tires.
History
The history of tires begins with the creation of iron bands around wooden wheels. The utilization of solid rubber in the construction of tires started in the mid-19th century. The first patent for a successful pneumatic tire was issued in the year 1888 to Irishman John Dunlop who invented an inner-tube for a bicycle tire. This was when the term "pneumatic" began to describe tires.
Seven years after, in the year 1895, Edouard and Andre Michelin produced pneumatic tires for a car in France. The company of the Michelin brothers was destined to become a top manufacturer of tires for automobiles. The very first United States company to make tires was Goodyear Tire company established in the year 1898, followed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber company in 1900, the second U.S. company to produce tires.
Function
For the first half of the 20th century, pneumatic tires needed a rubber inner tube in order to hold the air pressure. Tires were constructed of toughened layers of plies or cord covered with rubber. The plies were laid on an angle or bias to strengthen it and to define the shape of the tire. These "bias ply" tires had a tread pattern for traction.
Modern radial tires are constructed with the plies running at 90 degrees across the tire body. They require no inner tube as the tire forms an airtight seal with the wheel. This was an invention of the Michelin company in the year 1948. The tires did not become widely utilized until the late 1970s. Radial tires provide better fuel economy and last longer.