Motorcycle tires
The motorcycle developed from the bicycle. Built on the principle of gyro motion a motorcycle needs a pair of wheels in line to propel itself forward Robert Thomson gets the credit for developing the world first pneumatic tyre. For this he was granted a patent in France in1846 and USA in 1847. His tire consisted of a hollow belt of India-rubber inflated with air. This served the purpose of a cushion for the vehicle and the ground. However, absence of good quality rubber led to stoppage of this tire. Thomson reverted then to solid rubber tires. Nearly 43 years later the pneumatic tire was in a way reinvented by John Boyd Dunlop. Dunlop developed a pneumatic tire for his bicycle. This tire is the fore runner of the present day motorcycle tires.
Motorcycle tires are very much a part of everyday life but more important they are critical to the safety of the bike as their rubber tread is the only part that comes in contact with the road surface.
This basic design of Dunlop has been developed further over the last 100 years to the modern tire for the motorcycle.
The tire has developed into todays high technology design over a period of 100 years. But one technical development has had a revolutionary effect. This was the creation of the radial tire by Michelin in 1948. This new design greatly enhanced the road grip and traction of the bike tire while in contact with the road.
Previous to this the tires had cross-ply structure, where the threads were woven across one another. Such tires no doubt were having endurance but the sidewalls were hard and the tire could not flex easily when negotiating corners or bends.
Michelin improved on this and produced the rubber threads radically and this problem was to a great extant solved. The bike thus had better control and improved traction for cornering and braking.
At this time, the pneumatic tire was still having an inner tube. A design that had endured since the 1920s. There was a revolutionary invention in 1972 and
Dunlop successfully did away with the inner tube and tubeless tires made their advent into the market. This was a far reaching invention. Tubes are still manufactured and are sometimes used in tube less tires in case they can still be used.
Over the years, market forces and demand has had an effect on the development of the bike tires and many new types are on the road. These range from high speed racing such as Formula One to heavy plant usage on vehicles as large as a house.
All tires deliver a comfortable ride, relative resistance to punctures, and performance. Many of the names which we associate with tires - Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli and Bridgestone etc are house hold names and on the lips of every one.
These companies operate on a global scale and have manufacturing is centers spread from China and India to countries in Europe as well as the United States. However, it is Dunlop who will forever be associated with the tubeless, radial pneumatic tire and his heritage lives on in the (inch) measurement still used globally for the diameter of a road wheel.
As the cost of tires is relatively high in proportion to other normal servicing components, it is important that bike owners purchase the correct size for their vehicle - a specification which will be safe for the vehicle and acceptable for the ITV authorities.
Some of the important bike tire manufactures who have molded the tire industry are worth a look. To start with we have the Dunlop Tires. Its first factory opened in Dublin in 1889. Dunlop Tires makes a large variety and types of motorcycle tires for all vehicles. Dunlop also has a close association with motorsport including motorcycle racing. Dunlop tires are now available all over the world.
Close on the heels of Dunlop is the Bridgestone tire company. This is a Japanese company and is in the process of manufacturing tires since 1931. As Japan manufactures and markets some of the marquee machines in the world like Honda and Yamaha its inevitable that a large part of the production should come from Japan. The name Ishibashi in Japanese which translates to stone bridge is the genesis of the name Bridgestone. Currently it's the worlds second largest tire manufacturer in the world next to Michelin. Bridgestone has a vast range of motorcycle tires and are found all over the world:
Next we have the Michelin Tires. This company also like Dunlop has a strong past and was incorporated as far back as 1889.Michelin tires had gone on an expansion spree and in 1988 acquired the tyre and rubber manufacturing divisions of the American B.F. Goodrich Company which has a history dating back to 1870. Two years later in 1990 Michelin also added Uniroyal Inc., a business founded in 1892 as the United States Rubber Company to its cart. It must be remembered that Michelin is the worlds largest manufacturer of tires and though their factory came up in 1889 yet their activities date back to 1830 in vulcanized rubber.
Another name that conjures up a dream is The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. This again is an old company that has survived for more than a century. The company was founded by Harvey Firestone in the late 19th century. Initially they started by making pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the nineteenth century. They have now digressed to motor cars and motorcycles where they hold their own against the world best in terms of quality.
Another Japanese company that rules the roost is the Yokohama Rubber Company. This is the worlds seventh largest tire manufacturer. As is the practice with all Japanese companies the Yokohama rubber company has established a North American manufacturing and marketing arm - Yokohama Tire Corporation. Yokohama Tire Corporation. The company also maintains U.S. manufacturing capabilities and has a large distribution network with over 4500 outlets nation wide to cater to the American demand.
Other Articles
