When it comes to vehicles, tyres play a crucial role in ensuring safety, performance, and comfort on the road. While most people think of tyres as just round pieces of rubber, there is a fascinating world of engineering and innovation behind them. In this article, we’ll explore some interesting facts about tyres that you may not be aware of.
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Tyres are not merely accessories for vehicles; they are essential components that directly impact safety and performance. The contact between your vehicle and the road surface is solely through the tyres, making them vital for traction, handling, and braking. Choosing the right tyres and maintaining them properly is crucial for a smooth and safe driving experience.
Interesting Facts About Tyre
Did you know that the largest tyre in the world stands over 30 feet tall and weighs several tons? On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest tyre can fit on the tip of your finger. Tyres have also played a significant role in record-breaking achievements, such as the fastest land speed record. Furthermore, recycled tyres find unusual uses, including creating playground surfaces and even being transformed into art pieces. There are other interesting facts about tyres in this article.
1. The origin of the word ‘Tyre’
To start with, it was a contraction of “attire,” meaning that they “clothed” the wheel.
According to the OED, the word comes from “attire,” whereas “tie” is cited as an alternative by other sources. The spelling tire was reintroduced in the 19th century and is now commonly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other present and former Commonwealth states. In the 15th and 16th centuries, both tires and tires were in common use. Tire remains the only accepted spelling in the United States, which did not embrace the resurgence of the word tire.
2. Tyres are naturally white
Since the original colour of rubber is white, tires in their purest form would be colourless. How come they’re all black? A carbon additive was responsible for the initial black colour of the tire. However, silica eventually took over as the primary ingredient in making modern tires. Black’s continued popularity can be attributed to its timeless good looks; the colour works well with any other and doesn’t show dirt as easily, for example, in an automobile.
3. Who brought carbon black into the play?
Have you ever heard of the brand name “Crayola,” which is a manufacturer of crayons and markers? The original names of the company’s founders, Edwin Binny and C. Harold Smith, inspired the naming of the business as the Binny & Smith Company. In the year 1904, a tire company based in South Carolina, England, A chemist by the name of Mote added a little amount of carbon black to tires in order to give them a color and maybe replace the zinc oxide that was traditionally used at the time.
B.F. Goodrich started conducting research and development on these carbon black tires. They discovered that adding carbon black not only altered the colour of the tire but also dramatically boosted the tire’s resistance to punctures. Following this, B.F. Goodrich placed a substantial order with the company that produced the most carbon black at the time, Binny & Smith Company, which led to the incorporation of carbon black into the manufacturing process of conventional tyres.
4. The date of manufacture is printed on the tyres
Different numbers and alphabets are printed on the tires that all numbers and alphabets have different meanings. The below image has all information about the numbers and alphabets that are printed on the tyre.
5. The man who invented his own tyres to break the land speed record
Mickey Thompson was a well-known name in American auto racing. In the year 1960, he was well on his way to breaking the global land speed record when he discovered that there were no tires on the market that could withstand travelling at a speed of more than 500 miles per hour. He started constructing his own tyres, and by travelling 406.6 miles per hour on those tyres, he was able to break the world land speed record.
6. Tyres requirements change according to the season
Tires are manufactured to a certain design, which optimizes their performance in some environments while minimizing their potential benefits in others. The radials that were designed exclusively for the circumstances of summer roads would not be the best choice for roads in the winter, and vice versa.
The tread pattern and grooves, which are the primary distinguishing characteristics of tyres, can be sculpted in a number of various ways to accommodate a variety of needs. As a consequence of this, there are some models that are appropriate for particular conditions, while others are appropriate for other conditions. Combining them is not a good idea since it can result in a reduction in the level of performance that is required for certain kinds of weather or conditions.
7. Old tyres are recycled to make new ones
The disposal of tyres is one of the dumbest ideas that people have had since the nuclear war was developed. These components are constructed using the most durable materials that are not biodegradable. In other words, they are difficult to get rid of, and the process of doing so has a significant negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
When these are burned, they give off dangerous pollutants and greenhouse gases, which contaminate the environment and make it unfit for human settlement. It should also be mentioned that it is not a good idea to burn a large number of tyres at once since it is quite easy for the fire to get out of control in these situations. As a consequence of this, they are the leading candidates for recycling, and as a result, they are typically crushed, crumbled, and recreated in order to avoid a significant loss of resources and a detrimental impact on our environment.
8. Tyres that will never flatten
Have you ever heard about tyres that are resistant to punctures? In 2005, Michelin presented the “Twill,” a proposal for an airless tyre they had been working on. The words “tyre” and “wheel” were combined to create the modern-day term “Twell.” It was not initially implemented in ordinary passenger automobiles but rather in vehicles utilized in industries such as agriculture, construction, landscaping, and so on. In 2017, Michelin released a version of Twill dubbed “UPTIS,” which stands for “Unique Puncture Proof Tyre System.” UPTIS is developed specifically for use in business settings. It would appear that punctures will become obsolete in the not-too-distant future.
9. Who is the largest tyre manufacturer in the world
Michelin is the largest tyre manufacturer in the world. Michelin is Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Michelin is present in 177 countries, employs around 1.25 lakh individuals and operates 68 tyre production facilities which together rolled out around 173 million tyres in 2021.
10. Tyres produced per day in the world
Around 6.8 million tyres are produced every day around the world.
11. Most expensive tyre set
You have seen that the larger the tyre, the more expensive it is to date. The custom will be elevated to a whole new level in this situation. The big daddy of all tyres has finally arrived after a long wait. You read that right—”gold-plated tyres.” The four automobile tyres were created and produced by NRI-owned Z Tyres and offered at the REIFEN Trade Fair in Dubai.
The tyres are encrusted with 24-carat gold and fancy diamonds. As the most costly set of car tyres to date, these ultra-elite tyres have earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Do you want to know how much it costs? It just costs US$150,000, or INR1 crore. No, not for the set of tyres. Instead, you must raise US$ 600,000, which is equivalent to an enormous INR 4 crore, for the set of four tyres. And you thought the only thing monster-like about tyres. This unquestionably elevates it to the top of our list of the most costly tyres ever.