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 that allowed for a much more comfy ride. The contemporary transportation system of the world relies completely on pneumatic tires.
The pneumatic tire is a toughened rubber tire and is then compressed with air. Motor vehicles like for example trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles and airplanes all use pneumatic tires. Wheeled vehicles that are not motorized, like bicycles, also use pneumatic tires.
History
The tire began after the invention or iron bands used around wooden wheels. It wasn't until the mid-19th century that the use of solid rubber in the creation of tires. The very first patent for a successful pneumatic tire was issued in 1888 to Irishman John Dunlop who invented an inner-tube for a bicycle tire in the year 1888. This was when the term "pneumatic" began to describe tires.
In 1895, Edouard and Andre Michelin made the first pneumatic tires for automobiles in France. The company of the Michelin brothers was destined to become a leading producer of tires for automobiles. The first company in the US to produce tires was Goodyear Tire company established in 1898, followed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber company in the year 1900, the second United States company to make 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 made of toughened layers of plies or cord 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 required 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 used until the late 1970s. Radial tires last longer and offer better fuel economy.