Tyres are just car parts – black and round and useful: just not very interesting. Or are they? Here are five interesting tyre facts that might change your mind!
World’s Largest Tyre Manufacturer
The world’s largest tyre manufacturer might surprise you. You might be thinking surely it has to be Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin or one of the big names in tyres? But you would be wrong: the company that makes the most tyres in the world doesn’t actually cater to the motoring industry at all. They are a toy manufacturer: Lego, to be precise. Lego manufacture something like seven million teeny-tiny rubber tyres every year, making them the world’s largest manufacturer of rubber tyres.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems
Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are a type of new device which can help you ensure that your tyres are always inflated to the correct level, alerting you if one or more tyres lose pressure or are overinflated. Many new vehicles have TPMS fitted as standard but if your car is older, you can get one fitted with relatively little fuss.
They Tell You If They’re Efficient
Since 2013, tyres have had information added to the code on the sidewall. They now let consumers know the tyre’s relative fuel consumption, wet grip and noise so you can choose a more environmentally friendly tyre, if you are thinking green and doing your bit to help the environment. If you are considering getting new tyres then we will suggest you to check out Dartford Tyres. They are offering amazing summer deals. Check them out today!
Modern cars are no longer sold with a spare tyre in place in the boot. This is to save weight, costs and space, making cars look more desirable in the stats! Instead, manufacturers include a patch kit and an aerosol can of compressed air, so you can fix the tyre, reinflate and be away, without needing a tyre change.
Space Shuttle Tyres
Space shuttles have tyres, but their tyres come with seriously impressive specifications. They can carry a load of 140,000 pounds at speeds of up to 260mph, and they can deal with temperature changes ranging from -40°C in space to +54°C as the shuttle comes down to land. As you might expect, such sturdy tyres are not cheap and can only be used for a maximum of six missions: each one costs NASA around US$6,000 and a used one recently sold for around £6150! It did come with a paperwork trail with its provenance and career, from manufacture to sale into private hands, making it a fascinating piece of history as well as an unusual conversation piece.
