Tyres have a great role to play in keeping our world mobile. These rubber wheels have not only revolutionized transportation, they have come a long way and have been subject to several changes over the years. To understand tyres, it is best to go through an overview of their history first. Along with this, it is recommended to learn more about the exciting developments anticipated in the near future.
The Initial Days
Tyres in the 18th century were made of solid rubber. However, they did not offer ample comfort and often made riding a vehicle quite difficult. John Boyd Dunlop revolutionized the concept of tyres by introducing pneumatic tyres in 1888. The air filled in the tyres offered better shock absorption and enabled a smoother ride, making them more desirable.
What are Tyres Made of?
Natural rubber is the primary raw material used to make tyres. However, modern tyres have many other components besides rubber that give them strength and durability. Modern tyres primarily have synthetic polymers like butadiene rubber and styrene butadiene rubber along with natural rubber. These polymers along with metal and fabric reinforcements give the tyres their structural integrity and enhance their rolling resistance. Besides this, materials like carbon black and silica, antioxidants as well as antiozonants enhance the longevity of tyres.
The Evolution of Tread Patterns
Right till the end of the 19th century, tyres had smooth treads. The tread patterns were introduced by Dunlop in 1904. Since then, they have been a permanent feature of tyres. Nowadays, different kinds of tyres have different tread patterns like rib, lug, and all-terrain, based on the usage of the vehicle. From cycles to aircraft, different kinds of vehicles have different tread requirements.
The Evolution of Tubeless Tyres
Pneumatic tyres certainly revolutionized the automobile industry; tubeless tyres are the way forward. The first tubeless tyre was patented in the year 1903 and has gone through several modifications to give the world modern tyres. As the name suggests, these tyres are made in a manner that they can hold air within themselves. They do not need an inside tube to stay inflated. As these tyres do not depend on any tube, in case of a puncture, the air escapes slowly and does not lead to any mishap. In fact, in the case of tubeless tyres, the elements like nails causing the puncture themselves to seal the puncture. These tyres are also easier to repair and can be fixed with a simple plug-and-seal method.
Modern Eco-Friendly Tyres
Manufacturers are trying their best to do away with the use of natural rubber as it is a critical raw material listed by the EU. To extract 20-25 kg of natural rubber, 200-250 sq. metre of land is required, which is quite wasteful and harmful to the environment. Most manufacturers are aiming to increase the rolling resistance of the tyres in order to make them more durable. With increased rolling resistance, better fuel economy and reduced emissions are possible. Manufacturers are trying to cut down on their environmental footprint with the use of alternatives like dandelion rubber as well as recycled rubber compounds.
The Evolution of Connected Tyres
Preventive maintenance is the need of the hour. The automobile industry is keen on developing new technology to give new-age vehicles a competitive edge. Tyre companies are keeping up with the trend and have developed tyres with inbuilt sensors. These sensors give real-time information about the air pressure, temperature, and tread wear, displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard, alerting the driver about the maintenance requirement. This not only improves the driver’s response but also increases safety.
The Future of Tyres
With increasing focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly designs, tyre companies are heavily investing in research and development. Manufacturers are trying to come up with self-healing tyres that can automatically seal punctures and adaptive tyres that can adjust their inflation as per road conditions and temperature. There is also an increased focus on the use of alternative materials which can be easily recycled.
Moreover, in an effort to bring down the environmental impact of manufacturing and discarding worn-out tyres, most reputed tyre companies are trying to increase awareness around the recycling and alternate uses of discarded tyres. Some of the best tyre dealers in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Pathankot and other cities are working hand in hand with the manufacturers to spread awareness about the proper maintenance and life cycle of tyres.
Maintaining Tyres Efficiently
While tyre companies are doing their best to make the tyres more environmentally friendly and durable, consumers need to put in conscious efforts to maintain their vehicle’s tyres. Be it regular cleaning and removal of wedged objects to timely visual inspection of the treads and rims, people should invest time in doing maintenance activities to ensure the structural integrity of the tyres.
From solid rubber circular rings to connected wheels, the humble tyres have come a long way and the future shall see far better and more evolved tyres that will make commuting on two and four wheels safer and faster.
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