Pneumatic Tire Definition
The word "pneumatic" comes from the Greek word for "spirit" that is "pneuma" and translates to anything which is filled with air. Most tires you use or see these days are more than likely pneumatic tires. Actually, nearly all modern commercial transportation and private motor vehicles could not work without pneumatic tires.
Definition
Webster's online dictionary defines pneumatic tires as tires that are made from reinforced rubber and can hold compressed air. Any tire that needs air pressure to hold its shape is considered to be a pneumatic tire.
History
The invention of the pneumatic tire has been credited to Irish surgeon John Boyd Dunlop, who during 1888 developed the first practical pneumatic bicycle tire. In 1895, the Michelin brothers Edouard and Andre, the Michelin brothers were the first ones to utilize pneumatic tires on a car during a race.
Identification
Pneumatic tires are made from many bands of plys or corded fabric. Plys are often coated with rubber which enables them to hold air pressure. Bias ply tires have the plys overlaid at a particular angle to the other layers. Radial tires have all plys laid at 90 degrees to the casing or tire body.
KInds
In tube tires, there are a type of rubber inner tube to be able to hold the air pressure. Motorcycle tires on spoke rims, bicycle tires and car tires and older bias ply truck use inner tubes. Tubeless tires have a stiff bead on the sidewall edges which forms an airtight seal with the wheel. This kind of tire does not require an inner tube.
Exceptions
Pneumatic tires can be punctured and lose air pressure that makes them unsuitable for certain applications. Tires tires utilized in construction, tires utilized by the military, utilized on forklifts are often made with solid rubber or filled with resilient foam.
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