Tyre statistics and facts to blow your mind
“Tyres are a unique and necessary invention for any form of transportation. Tyres are an essential component that help you get from place to place. Flat tyres disrupt plans, while inferior tyres or damaged wheels impact your vehicle’s control and performance. While the average person may not think about their car’s tyres unless there’s an issue, or something goes wrong, they can be a fascinating topic of discussion.
Chris Lett, Australian Tyre expert, and owner of Branigans Tyres, is happy to talk tyres and blows the minds of readers with some intriguing tyre statistics and facts.
Air-filled or pneumatic tyres are used on many types of vehicles, including cars, bicycles, motorcycles, buses, trucks, heavy equipment and aircraft. Pneumatic tyres provide a flexible cushion that absorbs shock as the tyre rolls over rough surfaces. John Boyd Dunlop, an Irish inventor, invented the pneumatic tyre in 1888 primarily for his child’s tricycle. The invention caught on quickly and soon bicycles all over the world were being fitted with Dunlop’s pneumatic tyres. However, Dunlop was unaware that the pneumatic tyre had in fact been patented 43 years earlier, in 1846, by Robert William Thomson, a Scottish inventor.
Winter tyres were invented in the mid 1930’s in Nokia, Finland to combat the harsh weather prevalent in Nordic countries. Winter tyres have a different tread pattern that features wider and deeper grooves than summer tyres. They also contain a larger amount of natural rubber and silica in the compound that doesn’t harden as much as the synthetic rubber found in summer tyres when the temperatures drop.
White tyres – In the early days, tyre manufacturers used zinc oxide as an addition to the tyre rubber for strength, that produced the side effect of turning tyres white. After 1900, carbon black was used to increase the longevity and durability of the tyre. This addition also changed the tyre colour to black.
Modern tyres are made up of a number of materials including, steel, rubber, kevlar and nylon. Tyres also consist of metals like titanium and cobalt to help the compound bond to the steel belts. Silica and saline are also used to help enhance performance. Citrus oil and other “green” materials are also used.
The World’s Largest Tyre was built as a Uniroyal promotional icon. It’s a ‘car tyre’ that stands 24.4 metres tall and weighs 12 tons. It was originally built as a giant Ferris wheel at the 1964-65 New York World Fair. After the fair, it was transported to Detroit Motor Town.
“Tyres are a unique invention and there are many interesting facts about them but perhaps the most surprising fact about tyres is that LEGO is the world’s largest tyre manufacturer,” says Lett.
LEGO, renowned toy manufacturing company, holds the coveted title of being the world’s largest tyre manufacturer, producing over 320 million mini tyres each year. This is over 50 per cent more than any other tyre company worldwide.
Branigans Tyres has well-established workshops in Burleigh Heads and Southport in the Gold Coast region. Check out their full range of services or current featured promotions. Branigans award-winning affordable tyre subscriptions package starts at $7.97 and helps motorists budget for their ongoing tyre needs.
Vehicle owners are encouraged to drive in at their convenience as no pre-bookings or appointments are required. The branches are Burleigh Heads: (07) 5535 2660 situated at 13 Flagstone Drive or Southport: (07) 5591 8633 located at 1/277 Southport-Nerang Rd.
Written and syndicated by YDMA Group.
