Pneumatic Tires
Nearly all of the tires which have been utilized during the past 100 years have been pneumatic tires. They are made from rubber and allow for a far more comfy ride compared to other types of materials. The world's contemporary transportation system completely relies on pneumatic tires.
A pneumatic tire is a type of tire constructed of toughened rubber and filled with compressed air. Motor vehicles like for instance trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles and airplanes all utilize pneumatic tires. Wheeled vehicles which are not motorized, like bicycles, also use pneumatic tires.
History
The history of tires starts with the creation of iron bands around wooden wheels. The use of solid rubber in the construction of tires began in the mid-19th century. The very 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 produced the very first pneumatic tires for automobiles in France. The Michelin brothers' company was destined to become a top producer of tires for automobiles. The very first company in the United States to make tires was Goodyear Tire company founded in 1898, followed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber company in the year 1900, the second United States company to produce tires.
Function
For the first half of the 20th century, pneumatic tires required a rubber inner tube to hold the air pressure. Tires were made of reinforced layers of cord or plies covered with rubber. The plies were laid on a bias or angle 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 made 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 the Michelin's brother's invention in 1948. The tires did not become widely used until the latter parts of the 1970s. Radial tires provide better fuel economy and last longer.