La HITA ITV Stations – EVOLUTION OF TYRES

The earliest types of tyres were leather bands wrapped around a wooden wheel. The leather was quickly replaced with metal bands which lasted a lot longer.

1905 – TYRE TREADS INTRODUCED

Tread tyres were introduced in 1905. Along with improving tyres’ friction, the tread was also designed to guard the tyres’ carcass against contact with the road.

1920 – USE OF SYNTHETIC RUBBER IN TYRES

1923 – BALLOON TYRES

In 1923, Firestone, An American tyre and rubber company, introduced the first production balloon tyres. In contrast to using solid rubber or pneumatic tyres, balloon tyres had an inflated tube inside the rugged outer tyre. Balloon tyres gave better handling than earlier tyres

THE 1940S – TUBELESS TYRES

The rise in petrol prices called for fuel-efficient tyres. The front-wheel drive gained popularity during that era and tubeless tyres also helped increase fuel efficiency. The history of car tyres saw a rise in demand for tubeless tyres during that time.

1949 – RADIAL TYRES

Radial tyres provided added control on wet surfaces and made driving easier

The introduction of radial tyres was also a major point in the history of car tyres. The radial tyres had cords arranged around the edge of the wheel at a 90-degree angle. Radial tyres made the vehicle easy to control on wet surfaces and were also fuel-efficient.

1970S TO 1980S – TYRES BECOME SAFER

Run-flat tyres were introduced during the 1970s and became an instant sensation. These tyres were used for high speeding up to 80 kilometres per hour without needing a replacement.

THE 2000S – ECO-FRIENDLY TYRES

The growing concern for environmental sustainability not only led to the rise of electric cars but to eco-friendly tyres as well. Fuel-efficient features of the tyres lead to low emissions and contribute to the environment as a whole.

THE 2010S TO THE PRESENT – MODERN TYRES

The history of car tyres has reached the point where you can find vehicle and season-specific tyres

As technological advancements and environmental awareness grew, manufacturers adhered to the need for modern tyres. Automobile giants such as Tesla, BMW and Toyota to name a few have introduced vehicle-specific tyres such as airless tyres, which don’t need to be inflated. Although automobile manufacturers do not produce these tyres, they recommend getting vehicle-specific tyres for better performance.

Tyres are a key element of any ITV inspection: On the same axle, all tires must be the same: same brand, model, dimensions, and type. Likewise, it is important that the load and speed index of the tires are equal to or greater than those of the homologation of our car, otherwise, the result of the ITV will be unfavourable.

If your tyres do not match on a single structure this can be dangerous leading to unpredictable braking and handling.

By law, tyres should not have less than 1.6 millimetres of tread depth in the main grooves.