Tire

Tires or tyres (see American and British English spelling differences) are pneumatic enclosures used to protect and enhance the effect of wheels.

Tires are used on all types of vehicles, from cars to earthmovers to airplanes. Tires enable vehicle performance by providing for traction, braking, steering, and load support. Tires are inflated with air, which provides a flexible cushion between the vehicle and the road that smooths out shock and provides for a comfortable ride quality.

The first practical pneumatic tire was made by the Scot John Boyd Dunlop for his son's bicycle, in an effort to prevent the headaches his son had complained of while riding on the rough roads of the time (Dunlop's patent was later declared invalid because of prior art by fellow Scot Robert William Thomson). However, the pneumatic tire also has a more important effect of vastly reducing rolling resistance compared to a solid tire. Because the internal air pressure acts in all directions, a pneumatic tire is able to "absorb" lumps and bumps in the road as it rolls over them without experiencing a reaction force opposite to the direction of travel, as is the case with a solid (or foam-filled) tire. The difference between the rolling resistance of a pneumatic and solid tire is easily felt when propelling wheelchairs or baby buggies fitted with either type.

Pneumatic tires are made of a flexible elastomer material such as rubber with reinforcing materials such as fabric and wire. Tire companies were first started in the early 20th century, and grew in tandem with the auto industry. Today over 1 billion tires are produced annually, in over 400 tire factories, with the three top tire makers commanding a 60% global market share.