Pneumatic Tires
Most tires used in contemporary times are considered to be pneumatic tires. The use of rubber in tires allowed the invention of pneumatic tires which allowed for a more comfortable ride. The contemporary transportation system of the world completely relies on pneumatic tires.
The pneumatic tire is a toughened rubber tire and is then compressed with air. Motorized vehicles like for instance trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles and airplanes all utilize pneumatic tires. Non-motorized wheeled vehicles, like bicycles, also utilize pneumatic tires.
History
The tire started 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 very 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 1888. This was when the term "pneumatic" appeared to describe tires.
Seven years later, in 1895, Edouard and Andre Michelin produced pneumatic tires for an automobile in France. The Michelin brothers' company was destined to become a top manufacturer of tires for cars. The first United States company to make tires was Goodyear Tire company established in the year 1898, followed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber company in the year 1900, the second U.S. company to produce tires.
Function
A rubber inner tube was used in all pneumatic tires in the first part of the 20th century to help hold the air pressure. Tires were made of reinforced layers of plies or cord covered with rubber. The plies were laid on an angle or bias to strengthen it and to define the tire's shape. These "bias ply" tires had a tread pattern for traction.
Modern radial tires are made with the plies running at 90 degrees across the tire body. They require no inner tube because the tire forms an airtight seal with the wheel. This was an invention of the Michelin company in 1948. The tires did not become widely utilized until the latter parts of the 1970s. Radial tires provide better fuel economy and last longer.