4 Ways in Which the Tire Industry Is Evolving

Tires are the most important part of your vehicle as they are the only element that has contact with both the car and the ground. That makes choosing the right tires imperative as they are what keep you safe. Choosing a high-quality tire manufacturer like the likes of Continental or Pirelli means your tires will last longer and cost you less in the long run.

Just like cars, tires are constantly changing alongside our ever-changing different needs. We see changes in technology happen every day and tires are no different. Engineers are constantly on the lookout for new ideas that will make our tires more efficient and, most importantly, safer.

History of car tires

When cars first came about, their tires had a very simple design. They were metal tire covered with rubber that was then filled with air. Then, in 1905, the tread tire was invented as a way to protect the metal tire from direct contact with the road.

This would have been a huge improvement at the time as roads were not the smooth, tarmacked kind we see today. They would have been old dirt tracks or, even worse, stone roads that you could feel every bump of.

It wasn’t until the late 70s that we would see the run-flat tires we use today come into the picture. A run-flat tire means that the tire is designed to not completely deflate when punctured. This means that you are still able to drive at reduced speeds with these tires if they do get a puncture, allowing you to drive to safety. This is a very important safety feature, especially when driving on big freeways with multiple lanes. Being able to drive to a safer point means fewer accidents and less traffic on the road due to these accidents.

Technological improvements in car tires

We’ve seen many technological improvements in car tires since their invention – especially in reference to car tires. Tread tires being introduced dramatically improved driving comfort as well as safety.

Winter tires were invented and introduced in Finland back in 1934 as there was a need for a more sturdy tire in the snow. These tires are now used in countries across the globe to combat the difficulty of driving in cold weather. They make it easier to drive through the snow as well as make it safer when driving on any icy patches.

Future of car tires

As technology advances, we can expect to see some huge changes in the car tire industry. One of the main concerns on everyone’s minds at the moment is the environment and how we can keep harm to a minimum. But there are lots of other ways in which car tires are changing. Let’s take a look at some of the types of car tires we can expect to see a lot more of in the next few years.

• Airless tires – an airless tire might sound like something from a sci-fi film and in some ways you’re right! Working in partnership with NASA, the SMART Tire Company are attempting to build an airless tire as they require them for ventures to Mars. Due to the atmosphere and temperatures reaching below -100 degrees centigrade, these tires are a necessity.
• Tire sensors – wouldn’t it be handy to know when your tires needed air or were about to burst without getting out and checking them? This is what tire sensors hope to achieve. By developing sensors that attach directly to the tire itself, we could cut out the middleman (us) and be given all the information we need about our tire’s health.
• Tires from renewable materials – renewable materials are an absolute necessity so the plan to build tires made up of 35% renewable bio-materials is a good one. These materials include natural rubber from dandelions as well as silicate from rice and vegetable oils.
• Tires for electric vehicles – on the subject of renewable resources, electric vehicles are also massively on the rise so making new tires to make sure they run properly is vital. Electric vehicles tend to be on the heavier side so making tires that are just as functional and safe is top of the agenda.

Now you’ve got all the info on tires you need, what kind are you going to purchase?