Many of us drive cars daily, but very few of us know interesting facts about them. Tyres have an interesting story and some really fun facts. So join us as we continue to amaze you with them. These pieces of rubber are much more than what you can see. Let’s learn about them, and you might be able to share these fun facts on your next Tyres Promotion visit.

1.      Where Does the Name Tyre Come From?

The name ” tyre ” has an interesting history. Many of us view tyres as the covering of the wheel. In fact, if you ask anyone what a tyre is in general terms. They would reply that it is a rubber that covers the wheel. This is exactly where the name “ tyre ” comes from. So, the tyre is a shorter version of the word “attire,” which refers to clothing. As tyres are clothing for the wheel, they get their name.

2.      Tyre Manufacturing Date is On Them.

Many people don’t know that you can tell the manufacturing date of tyres just by looking at them. It’s pretty simple. Just look at the sidewall of your tyre. Here, you will find a 4-digit number. For example, you’ll see something like “1121.” This means that your tyre was born in the eleventh week of 2021.

3.      Record Breaking Tyres? This Man Makes His Own!

Mickey Thompson was the American who built his own tyres. Because general tyres didn’t give him the support he was looking for. He went on to make his own in 1960 when he set out to beat the world land speed record. At that time, there were no tyres that could support driving at 500 mph. This problem urged Thompson to make his own set. So he was successful in his design and won the world land speed record, driving at 406.6 mph on them.

4.      Tyres aren’t Naturally Black!

You heard that right. Rubber and hundreds of other materials make up the tyres we use. Moreover, we know that the color of natural rubber is white. So back in the day, the color of tyres was white. It was only later that tyre-makers started mixing carbon black with rubber. As the name suggests, carbon black gives the black color to the tyres we know today. This compound greatly increases the strength of tyres. Thus, the practice of using carbon black in tyres continues to date.

5.      Who Brought Carbon Black into the Game?

Everyone has used Crayola crayons and markers as a kid. But what do they have to do with tyres? Crayola’s previous name was Binny & Smith Company. This name was after the founders of the company. In 1904, the scientists started their experiments with carbon black. They got to know that adding this to tyres makes them stronger. This addition brought the iconic black color to tyres. Later, the tyre-makers placed the largest order of carbon black with Crayola. Thus, making them the game-changers in the history of tyre color.

6.      Tyres that Never Puncture

Puncture-proof tyres sound like something from the future. But they are not. These tyres are now reality. In 2005, Michelin tyres was the first company to pitch the “Twill” concept. These were tyres that feature an airless deign. Then, in 2017, Michelin tyres went on to introduce the UPTIS tyres for commercial use. Thus, soon enough, punctures will be something from the past.

7.      Tyres that Work Even with Punctures

While we’re talking about tyres and punctures. Let’s talk about tyres that can work even when they have a puncture. That’s right! These are the run-flat tyres. These tyres can run for another 70 to 80 km after puncturing. Nowadays, most BMW cars come with these tyres.

8.      You Can Recycle Tyres

We know that rubber comes from nature. Thus, returning tyres to nature sounds more natural. So we can use tyres to make many different things. This includes playgrounds, roads, shoes, and much more. Thus taking the load off of nature and using the rubber we already have.

9.      World’s Most Expensive Tyres

If you think that your tyres are expensive, you’re in for a surprise. A Dubai-based company, namely Z Tyres, holds the record of making the world’s most expensive tyres. How much are they for you ask? These tyres come at the staggering price of $600,000! Breaking the record of Michelin tyres Bugatti Veyron tyres at $42,000.

10.  Space Shuttle Tyres

Every land vehicle needs tyres to move. Surprisingly, even space shuttles need tyres! These tyres have a similar size to the 18” tyres. But they feature some very unique traits. Their build allows them to bear up to 60 tonnes of steel and run at 400 kmph.

11.  Tyres with Walnut Shells?

You heard that right. The Japanese tyre company Toyo, once built tyres with walnut shells inside them. Because they were making winter tyres and these tyres need a better grip. Thus, they added walnut shells in their tyres to improve grip.

12.  World’s Largest Tyres

Talking about records, let’s look at the world’s largest tyre record. This tyre is in Allen Park, Michigan, USA. So it features a massive 80-foot height and weighs around 11,000 kilos! Just imagine fixing a puncture for this tyre!

13.  How Many Tyres per Day?

The world makes around 6.8 million tyres. And that’s not for a year, nor for a month, but just for one day! Recycling tyres definitely sounds good, doesn’t it?

14.  Who is the World’s Biggest Tyre Maker?

Michelin Tyres holds the record of making the most tyres worldwide. So they are the largest tyre makers by revenue in 2023. Thus, you can see their tyres everywhere, from cars and trucks to bikes and aircraft. This company makes tyres for everyone!

15.  The Actual World’s Biggest Tyre Maker!

Let’s help you guess. Is there someone who’s a bigger tyre maker than Michelin? That’s right, there’s someone out there giving Michelin a hard time. It’s none other than LEGO, the toy company. LEGO makes more than 700 million tyres yearly. Thus making them leave Michelin behind! While these tyres won’t fit on your car, they definitely look good on your LEGO cars.