There is no denying the importance of tires as it is the only car component that comes into direct contact with the surface of the road. Hence, tires play an instrumental role in determining the overall performance of a vehicle.
So, what important functions do tires have? Well, tires help support vehicle load, transmit traction and braking forces to the road surface, aid in maneuvering, and absorb road shocks. High-quality tires provide better handling and fuel economy. Therefore, if you want to travel safely in your vehicle, it is of paramount importance for you to have a good set of tires. If you need help purchasing a new set of tires, you may consider visiting TreadHunter.
These days, it is possible for you to acquire a new set of tires from various different places including warehouse clubs, discount tire shops, independent retailers, and online tire merchants.
So, how have tire designs evolved over the years?
Basically, the earliest tires were bands of leather, then iron, and later steel. The tires were initially fitted on wooden wheels used on carts and wagons. The tire industry had a major revolution in the late 1800s. To be precise, in the year 1888, Benz invented the pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire was basically a metal tire covered with rubber and filled with air. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to state that the invention changed the entire automobile industry.
A few years later in 1905, the tread tire was introduced to the world. The introduction of tread increased road surface friction, and, thus, made traveling in automobiles safer. During the time, balloon tire, a type of low-pressure tire with low internal air pressure also gained popularity. Then in 1931, the American company, Du Pont, was successful in its attempt to industrialize synthetic rubber, encouraging the production of tires.
Soon enough, the big players in the automobile industry sought to combat the problem of sky-high oil prices and proceeded to develop the tire structure even more, looking to save fuel. During the time, many manufacturers employed the front-wheel drive method for their cars.
The 1950s then saw the invention of the radial tire. The radial tire did exceptionally well at providing better gas mileage.
The automobile industry then decided to focus on improving tire safety and thus, developed run-flat tire in 1979. The tire was specifically designed to help the vehicle maintain a constant driving speed even when punctured, protecting the driver from various accidents caused due to scratches and holes in the tire.
With increasing interest in environmental conservation, the development of the eco tuning tire then took place at full pace in the 2000s. And, to this day, manufacturer’s work round the clock to develop tires that increase fuel saving.
Currently, over 1 billion tires are produced on a yearly basis in over 400 tire factories!
Article Submitted By Community Writer
