| 3500 BC |
According to researchers, the first wheel was invented in Mesopotamia ( War ravaged Iraq, now) which was used for transportation for chariots which was made of stone. |
| 2000 BC |
The spoked wheel was implemented by the Egyptians for their chariots. These wheels decreased the material used and for faster transportation. |
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| 15th Century BC |
Classical Greek four-spoked chariot-wheel were used. The Hittite and Egyptian chariots tended to have six spokes, Iron Age Assyrian ones eight. |
| 1000 BC |
The iron rims were first mounted on the spoked wheels by the Celtics. |
| 1802 |
B. F. Bauer registered the first wire tensioned spoke wheel. This wire spoke consisted of a length of wire threaded through the rim of the wheel and secured at both ends to the hub. |
| 1844 |
Charles Goodyear invented Vulcanized rubber that was the best suitable for the automobiles and are also used till date. |
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| 1845 |
R. W. Thompson invented the pneumatic tire with the wire tension spoke which was then patented in the same year. |
| 1888 |
John Dunlop further optimized the idea of R. W. Thompson and patented its better version of the pneumatic tire. |
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| 1890 |
CK Welsh files a patent for his design of a wheel rim and outer cover with inextensible lip. |
| 1892 |
Beaded edge tires introduced in the U.S. |
| 1893 |
Cotton reinforcing cords have appeared |
| 1894 |
E.J. Pennington invents the first balloon tire |
| 1895 |
André Michelinwas the first person to use pneumatic tires on an automobile, however, not successfully |
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| 1900 |
Cord tires introduced by Palmer (England) and BFGoodrich (U.S.) |
| 1903 |
P.W. Litchfield of the Goodyear Tire Company patented the first tubeless tire, however, it was never commercially exploited until the 1954 Packard. |
| 1904 |
Goodyear and Firestone start producing cord-reinforced tires |
| 1904 |
mountable rims were introduced that allowed drivers to fix their own flats. |
| 1908 |
Frank Seiberling invented grooved tires with improved road traction. |
| 1910 |
B.F. Goodrich Company invented longer life tires by adding carbon to the rubber. |
| 1911 |
Philip Strauss invented the first successful tire, which was a combination tire and air filled inner tube. Strauss' company the Hardman Tire & Rubber Company marketed the tires. |
| 1919 |
Goodyear and Dunlop announce pneumatic truck tires |
| 1923 |
First balloon tire, named for larger cross section and lower pressure, introduced by Firestone: debut on the first Chrysler, the 70, in 1924 |
| 1924 |
The first alloy wheels were developed for the Bugatti Type 35. |
| 1929 |
Solid automobile tires cease to be used |
| 1937 |
Goodrich also invented the first synthetic rubber tires in 1937 made of a patented substance called Chemigum. |
| 1938 |
Goodyear introduces the rayon cord tire |
| 1946 |
Michelin introduces the radial tire |
| 1947 |
Goodyear introduces first nylon belted tires |
| 1947 |
BFGoodrich announces the tubeless tire |
| 1963 |
Use of polyester cord introduced by Goodyear |
| 1965 |
Armstrong Rubber introduces the bias belted fiberglass tire |
| 1967 |
Poly/glass tires introduced by Firestone and Goodyear |
| 1974 |
Pirelli introduces the wide (low aspect ratio) radial tire |
| 1975 |
Michelin very first American-built radial passenger tire |
| 1992 |
Michelin introduces the first durable silica-filled tire, also known as "green tires". |
| 1998 |
Michelin develops tire that’s vertically anchored and unseatable, allowing it to run flat after a loss of pressure |
| 2004 |
The Active Wheel developed by Michelin is the most recent concept of a proper wheel and suspension system coordinated assembly. The Active wheel provides direct power delivery of approximately 30 kW (40 hp), as well as regenerative braking. It also replaces the mechanical suspension with an active suspension driven by an in-wheel electrical suspension motor that controls torque distribution, traction, turning maneuvers, pitch, roll and suspension damping for that wheel |
| 2005 |
Michelin introduces the Tire and Wheel combinative unit known as Tweel wherein the flexible spokes are fused with a flexible wheel that deforms to absorb shock and rebound with ease that removes need of air pressure as in the conventional tires. Tweel still delivers pneumatic-like performance in weight-carrying capacity, ride comfort, and the ability to "envelope" road hazards. |