Tires have come a long, long way even since the radial tires of the 1990s. As automobile design has matured and evolved, tires have improved greatly over the decades as well…they last longer, ride smoother, are quieter, handle better and generally continue to improve. Here’s a brief timeline of major innovations in tire design.

The first rubber tires were developed in the mid-19th century. These solid rubber strips were fitted to wagon or coach wheels to soften the bone-rattling ride a little. Air-filled tires were patented as early as 1845, but these early pneumatic tires failed easily and fell into disuse.

As tire technology evolved, automotive suspensions and steering had to change as well; cars that were designed for the bias-ply tires of the 1940s and 50s generally do not perform well with modern radial tires.

Today, tire technology continues to advance with new designs of all-terrain, touring, winter and performance tires, all of which represent big improvements over previous generations of tires from a decade or two ago.

How are the tires on your car holding up? Got plenty of tread? Time for a tire rotation? Give us a call at The Tire Terminal in Mississauga, ON and set up an appointment!