Inflatable tires have been a staple of modern transportation for over 170 years, despite their inherent flaws. These tires were first invented in the 1800s by Robert William Thomson, an English inventor who sought to reduce friction and make transportation easier. His design involved creating a cushion of air around the wheels, which was made possible using materials like sulfur rubber or gutta-percha.
Fast forward to the late 1800s, Scottish veterinarian John Boyd Dunlop reinvented the pneumatic tire after watching his son struggle with a tricycle. Dunlop’s tires, made from vulcanized rubber, quickly gained popularity and became commercially successful. The advantages of inflatable tires over hard tires are numerous: increased speed and comfort, reduced rolling resistance due to the compressibility of air, and the ability to absorb shocks better than solid tires.
However, despite these benefits, inflatable tires are not without their drawbacks. They can become bloated in hot weather and deflate in cold weather, which can be inconvenient for drivers. In addition, they are prone to exploding while on the road. Despite these issues, inflatable tires remain widely used today because of their energy efficiency and overall advantages in terms of speed and comfort.
