Pneumatic Tires
Most of the tires which have been used over the past 100 years have been pneumatic tires. They are constructed of rubber and allow for a far more comfy ride compared to other materials. The contemporary transportation system of the world relies completely on pneumatic tires.
A pneumatic tire is a tire made of toughened rubber and filled with compressed air. Motorized vehicles like for example airplanes, motorcycles, trucks, buses and cars all utilize pneumatic tires. Non-motorized wheeled vehicles, such as 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 creation of tires started in the middle part of the 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 word "pneumatic" appeared to describe tires.
In 1895, Edouard and Andre Michelin made the very first pneumatic tires for cars in France. The Michelin brothers' company was destined to become a leading producer of tires for cars. The very first United States company to make tires was Goodyear Tire company founded in 1898, followed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber company in 1900, the second company in the US to produce tires.
Function
For the first part 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 cord or plies covered with rubber. The plies were laid on an angle or bias to define the shape of the tire and strengthen it. 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. Inner tube is not necessary since the tire forms an airtight seal with the wheel. This was a creation of the Michelin company in 1948. The tires did not become widely used until the latter parts of the 1970s. Radial tires offer better fuel economy and last longer.