History of car tires

Since the advent of rubber pneumatic tires in 1888 on the gasoline-powered Benz automobile, advances in materials and technology have made tremendous strides. Air-filled tires began to gain popularity in 1895 and have since become the norm, albeit in a wide variety of designs.

Early developments

In 1905, for the first time, a tread appeared on pneumatic tires. It was a thicker contact patch designed to reduce wear and damage to the soft rubber tire.

In 1923, the first balloon tire, similar to the one used today, was used. This greatly improved the ride and comfort of the car.

The development of synthetic rubber by the American company DuPont occurred in 1931. This completely changed the automotive industry as tires could now be easily replaced and quality could be controlled much more precisely than natural rubber.

Getting traction

The next important development happened in 1947 when the tubeless pneumatic tire was developed. Inner tubes were no longer required as the bead of the tire fit snugly against the edge of the tire. This milestone was due to increased manufacturing precision by both tire and wheel manufacturers.

Soon, in 1949, the first radial tire was made. The radial tire was preceded by a bias tire with a cord running at an angle to the tread, which tended to wander and form flat patches when parked. The radial tire significantly improved handling, increased tread wear and became a serious obstacle to the safe operation of the car.

Radial RunFlat Tires

Tire manufacturers continued to tweak and refine their offerings over the next 20 years, with the next major improvement coming in 1979. A run-flat radial tire was produced that could travel up to 50 mph without air pressure and up to 100 miles. The tires have a thicker reinforced sidewall that can support the weight of the tire over limited distances without inflation pressure.

Improving efficiency

In 2000, the attention of the whole world turned to ecological methods and products. Previously unseen importance has been given to efficiency, especially with regard to emissions and fuel consumption. Tire manufacturers have been looking for solutions to this problem and have begun testing and introducing tires that reduce rolling resistance to improve fuel efficiency. Manufacturing plants have also been looking for ways to reduce emissions and optimize manufacturing plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These developments also increased the number of tires the factory could produce.

Future developments

Tire manufacturers have always been at the forefront of vehicle and technology development. So what's in store for us in the future?

The next major development is actually already implemented. All major tire manufacturers are feverishly working on airless tyres, which were originally introduced in 2012. They are a support structure in the form of a web, which is attached to the rim without an air chamber for inflation. Non-pneumatic tires cut the manufacturing process in half and are made from a new material that can be recycled or possibly even reclaimed. Expect initial use to focus on environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen-powered vehicles.