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Using a car every day, we do not notice how essential tires play in them. These seemingly simple products have a long history, almost 240 years old. Tires were modified and modernized at different stages and gradually became better quality, wear-resistant, and durable. Today, they are a product that has absorbed all the best available to people and has become genuinely perfect. In our article, we will briefly consider the critical stages in the history of the development of car tires and also try to look into the future and understand what these products will be in 10, 20, 30 or more years.

Early History and the 19th century

The process of creating car tires began long before their official invention. Similar products appeared in some European countries as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. They were simple and roughly made strips of leather that were attached to the wheel in different ways and made it possible to reduce its wear. Then, there were many experiments in which leather was replaced with elastic materials available at one time or another. Iron and steel were also sometimes used and were uniquely attached to the wheel.

The first product that resembled a modern tire appeared in 1847. Its creator was the Scottish inventor Robert Thomson, who also became famous for inventing a refillable fountain pen. His invention initially seemed promising, but it was never put into production due to various circumstances. People had to wait more than 40 years until, in 1888, another Scotsman, John Dunlop, completed Thomson's work. Many liked his invention, but only Karl Benz started using it on his cars. Due to this circumstance, people could understand all the advantages of tires and turn their trips into more comfortable events (tires allowed to get rid of excessive shaking during driving). In 1895, John Dunlop's invention debuted at the famous Paris-Bordeaux race. There, many people saw it, which catalyzed the growth of car tires' popularity.

First half of the 20th century

At the beginning of the 20th century, the first companies specializing in tire production appeared. They paid a lot of attention to improving their products, thanks to which, in 1905, they launched mass production of tires with a tread. This helped increase the strength of the products and make them more durable. The next important event in the history of car tires was the invention of air-filled models in 1923. They made it possible to increase the contact area with the road surface and make vehicles more controllable.

By the 1930s, the reserves of rubber used to create car tires had significantly decreased, so humanity was forced to look for an alternative to this material. Synthetic rubber was created in 1931. Thanks to this event, it became possible to produce an unlimited number of tires, which were relatively cheap and not inferior in characteristics to products made of natural rubber.

During WWII, car tires were transformed into products for various military equipment. In this regard, they became more extensive, rigid and capable of providing reasonable control even on the worst road. After the end of the war, a new stage in the development of these products began. Already in 1946, Michelin introduced the first radial tires. They helped significantly improve the car's controllability and achieve the standard fuel efficiency at that time. In addition, radial tires became more durable than their predecessors. Combining all the advantages allowed these products to capture the markets of Asia and Europe.

Second half of the 20th century

The introduction of tubeless tires, which began in the late 40s, quickly gained momentum in the first years of the second half of the 20th century. By 1955, models of this type began to be used everywhere and became an ideal option for drivers of various vehicles. In the late '70s, Run-Flat tires came into play. They helped to increase travel safety since even during a puncture; they could not lose their properties and function typically for 80-100 km of travel. In the 80s, Run-Flat became extremely popular. Until the end of the 20th century, they were almost indispensable. They were installed on most of the well-known models of vehicles that can be purchased today at the Autobidmaster car auction.

The emergence of dozens of new types of tires marked the 90s. They all had advantages over competitors and were intended for use in certain conditions. Universal options were also developed to work equally effectively on any road surface. With the advent of UHP tires in the second half of the 90s, drivers were able to improve the controllability of their vehicles, reduce braking distances and improve the car's driving characteristics. This period in the history of car tires is also remembered for the ever-increasing competition between companies producing such products. It significantly accelerated modernizing tires and helped make them more perfect.

21st century

At the beginning of the 21st century, all leading manufacturers of automobile tires began to look for ways to reduce the friction of their products on the road surface. Theoretically, this would make the products more durable and also contribute to a reduction in fuel consumption. However, in reality, the situation was slightly different. With reduced friction, the tires began to “stick” to the asphalt worse, consequently making the cars less controllable. Another negative consequence was increased braking distance, increasing the likelihood of accidents. As a result, manufacturers were forced to look for something in between and create products that let you stop the car quickly and not wear out the tires too much.

At the end of the first decade of the 21st century, Michelin created tires in which the air chambers were replaced with special polyurethane spokes. This product was of sufficient quality, so it was widely used by drivers of that time. In 2012, Hankook created similar tires and called them NPT. They also lacked an air chamber and worked effectively on many models. In the following years, there was an active process of searching for aspects that could be improved. Most often, manufacturers sought to improve their tires, considering the need to increase their wear resistance and improve braking qualities. Today, the history of car tires continues, and we should expect new stages shortly.

The future of car tires

Car tires have gone through many development stages but have yet to finish their journey. In this regard, we can expect their further improvement in the future. The most likely direction of modernization should be a reduction in product weight. Today, many manufacturers are already experimenting with various lightweight materials and trying to achieve optimal characteristics of their products. They are also trying in multiple ways to reduce the size and, therefore, the tread's weight without lowering the tire's efficiency in various conditions.

Shortly, we should expect the appearance of tires characterized by increased load-bearing capacity without growing in size compared to conventional products. They should become a more universal option, suitable for use on cars for various purposes. Another critical change awaiting us is the appearance of tires made using renewable raw materials. It will make the production of these products and their operation process safer for the environment. In addition, tires made of organic materials will be extremely easy to dispose of. In this case, they will not harm the environment and help protect our planet from global climate change.

Tires can be equipped with various sensors in the future. Experiments in this area are being conducted quite actively, so it won’t be long before positive results appear. The sensors used in tires will help monitor their current condition and warn the driver about potential problems. They will also allow data on the quality and characteristics of the road surface to be read. Theoretically, this information will help improve the car's driving process and adapt its behavior to the characteristics of the road surface.

Tires are an indispensable thing for owners of cars and other vehicles. At the beginning of their history, they were primitive and short-lived, but after 240 years, they have become perfect products. Today, most tires available to drivers are highly durable and wear-resistant, and they can effectively cope with their tasks for a very long time. In the future, they should become even more perfect. Car tires are expected to become lighter, more durable, and made from environmentally friendly raw materials. How it will be remains a mystery. However, one thing is clear: tires will continue to improve and stay in demand worldwide.