The History of the Tyre

The following chronicles the development of the tyre as we know it today. RW Thomson invented and patented the Pneumatic Tyre in 1845. His first design used a number of thin inflated tubes inside a leather cover (illustrated). This design actually had its advantages over later designs. It would take more than one puncture to deflate the whole tyre, and varying the pressures could alter the ride conditions.

It was not until the late nineteenth century, 1888, that John Boyd Dunlop invented the Rubber Pneumatic Tyre. Despite these technological breakthroughs the solid rubber tyre continued to be the dominant tyre and it was not until 1889 that the pneumatic tyre caught on.

Dunlop first advertised his tyres in December 1888 in The Irish Cyclist, and in May of the following year the tyre had its first breakthrough. A Belfast Cycle Race was won on pneumatic rubber tyres, and by now the public were starting to take note.

Unfortunately the original tyre had its drawbacks. The inner tube was difficult to get at because the tyre was stuck to the wheel. In 1890 CK Welsh patented the design of a wheel rim and outer cover with inextensible lip. By now we had the basics for today’s tyre. Over the years the tyre has developed into today’s high technology offerings. Two of the most important technical developments include Michelin’s creation of the radial tyre with its vastly superior grip in 1948, and when Dunlop did away with the inner tube on car tyres in 1972.

Time has given the motor industry tyres capable of many different applications. This ranges from High Speed Racing such as Formula One to Heavy Plant Usage on vehicles as large as a house. All tyres deliver a comfortable ride, relative puncture resistance, wear and performance. The importance of a tyre must not be taken for granted. After all a tyre is your vehicles only point of contact with the road.