Inflatable tires have been in use for over a century and continue to be a popular choice for modern vehicles, despite their drawbacks. The first patent for an inflatable tire was granted to Robert William Thomson of England in 1845. His design involved creating a cushion of air around the wheels to reduce friction and make transportation easier.
John Boyd Dunlop, a Scottish veterinarian living in Ireland, reinvented the pneumatic tire after seeing his son struggle to ride a tricycle. His tires, made from vulcanized rubber, quickly gained popularity and became commercially successful. Advantages of inflatable tires over hard tires include increased speed and comfort, as well as reduced rolling resistance due to the compressibility of air.
While inflatable tires may require regular pumping and are prone to going flat or exploding, they also have many benefits that make them worth the effort. Air-filled tires are able to absorb shocks better than solid tires, making for a smoother ride, especially at high speeds. The lighter weight of air compared to solid rubber also contributes to lower rolling resistance, making inflatable tires more energy-efficient. So why do we still use inflatable tires when there are other options available? Perhaps it’s because they offer such significant advantages in terms of speed, comfort, and energy efficiency that their potential drawbacks are justified in our eyes.
