Pneumatic Tires
Nearly all of the tires which have been used 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 materials. The world's contemporary transportation system completely relies on pneumatic tires.
The pneumatic tire is a durable rubber tire and is then compressed with air. Motorized vehicles including buses, cars, trucks, motorcycles and airplanes all use pneumatic tires. Wheeled vehicles which are not motorized, such as bicycles, also utilize pneumatic tires.
History
The tire began after the creation or iron bands utilized 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 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 term "pneumatic" began to describe tires.
In 1895, Edouard and Andre Michelin produced the very first pneumatic tires for cars in France. The Michelin brothers' company was destined to become a leading manufacturer of automobile tires. The first United States company 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 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 a bias or angle to strengthen it and to define the tire's shape. These "bias ply" tires had a tread pattern for traction.
The modern radial tire has been made with plies which run across the body of the tire. Inner tube is not required as the tire forms an airtight seal with the wheel. This was the Michelin's brother's invention in 1948. The tires did not become commonly utilized until the late 1970s. Radial tires last longer and offer better fuel economy.