Description

A tire (American English) or tyre(BritishEnglish)[1] is a ring-shaped vehicle component that coversthewheel's rim to protect it and enable better vehicleperformance.Most tires, such as those for automobiles and bicycles,providetraction between the vehicle and the road while providingaflexible cushion that absorbs shock.

The materials of modern pneumatic tires are syntheticrubber,natural rubber, fabric and wire, along with carbon black andotherchemical compounds. They consist of a tread and a body. Thetreadprovides traction while the body provides containment foraquantity of compressed air. Before rubber was developed, thefirstversions of tires were simply bands of metal fitted aroundwoodenwheels to prevent wear and tear. Early rubber tires weresolid (notpneumatic). Today, the majority of tires are pneumaticinflatablestructures, comprising a doughnut-shaped body of cordsand wiresencased in rubber and generally filled with compressed airto forman inflatable cushion. Pneumatic tires are used on manytypes ofvehicles, including cars, bicycles, motorcycles, buses,trucks,heavy equipment, and aircraft. Metal tires are still usedonlocomotives and railcars, and solid rubber (or other polymer)tiresare still used in various non-automotive applications, such assomecasters, carts, lawnmowers, and wheelbarrows.