Guide 2 Tires

Tires are an unrecognized technological marvel

When it comes to tires, race car drivers are in the know, and so maybe are sports car, long haul and some SUV drivers. But other than these select few, who really knows anything about tires - their own, or anyone else's for that matter?

Tires are a complex product, and the many forms they now take, compared to 100 years ago, are mind-boggling. There are different models for cars, trucks, aircraft, motorcycles, ATVs, bicycles, tractors, minivans and SUVs. What is more mind-boggling is how they are classified, identified, installed and ultimately disposed of.

Since the discovery of vulcanized rubber, by Charles Goodyear, and the subsequent patent and production of the pneumatic and then the radial, tire technology has advanced significantly. The consumer, however, has probably been too busy to notice, so the learning curve is now greater.

The sheer numbers and types of tires are magnified by who manufactures them. Most consumers can relate to and name Goodyear, Michelin and Bridgestone as brands, and to a lesser extent maybe Uniroyal Goodrich, Cooper, Continental, Firestone and Pirelli. Some may even know certain lines of tires, such as Goodyear Assurance. However, production of the tire is no longer the domain of Europeans and North Americans, and is no longer exclusive to only the biggest companies. Asian and international manufacturers such as Toyo, Kumho, Nitto, Nokian and Yokohama have all jumped in the fray with their own versions of the product.

With the increase in the number of tire manufacturers, comes the inevitable rise in distributors or retailers, whether they are national, regional or local. National retailers seem to have cornered most of the market, opening up new locations all over the states. Big O and Discount are two well-known retailer ‘brands', and some consumers might even be able to identify a few other large retailers, like Sears Automotive, Just Tires, Tire Kingdom and Tire Rack. Consumers certainly benefit from this amazing variety of choices.

In the face of all these options, consumers in the end must make their own decisions about just what rubber is going to hit the road. With a few handy tire buying tips, either sourced from reading or second-hand knowledge, the savvy buyer can wade through the dizzying array of retailers, and know exactly what tire type they are looking for. Manufacturers make tires in every conceivable form, from passenger / touring to performance, winter and light truck / SUV.

Knowledge of what goes into a tire is also quite helpful, when sourcing a particular brand line. The federal government has gone to great length to test all tires and give them rankings based on safety. Tire manufacturers take this ranking, along with other pertinent information like tire codes, and imprint it on the sidewall of the tire. This information is crucial when it comes time to find replacement tires. And remember, a tire's life isn't over at end-of-life either; recycling has become as big a business as production.

So, as you can see, a tire is not just what keeps your car, truck, minivan, motorcycle or SUV on the road. Even though the average person may never notice, it is actually a complex product and technological marvel.