Pneumatic Tires
Most tires utilized in contemporary times are considered to be pneumatic tires. The utilization of rubber in tires allowed the creation of pneumatic tires which allowed for a much more comfy ride. The contemporary transportation system of the world completely depends on pneumatic tires.
A pneumatic tire is a type of tire constructed of reinforced rubber and filled with compressed air. Motorized vehicles including motorcycles, airplanes, buses, cars and trucks all utilize pneumatic tires. Non-motorized wheeled vehicles, such as bicycles, also use pneumatic tires.
History
The tire began after the creation or iron bands used around wooden wheels. It wasn't until the middle part of the 19th century that the utilization of solid rubber in the construction of tires. The first patent for a successful pneumatic tire was issued in 1888 to Irishman John Dunlop who created an inner-tube for a bicycle tire in the year 1888. This was when the term "pneumatic" started to describe tires.
Seven years after, in the year 1895, Edouard and Andre Michelin produced pneumatic tires for a car in France. The Michelin brothers' company was destined to become a leading manufacturer of tires for automobiles. The very first company in the United States to produce tires was Goodyear Tire company founded 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 part of the 20th century, pneumatic tires required 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 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 body of the tire. They need no inner tube since the tire forms an airtight seal with the wheel. This was a creation 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.