The earliest tyres were bands of leather placed on wooden wheels, used on carts and wagons. The tyre would be heated in a forge, placed over the wheel and cooled with water, causing the metal to contract and fit tightly on the wheel. A skilled worker, known as a wheelwright, carried out this work. The outer ring served to “tie” the wheel segments together for use, providing also a wear-resistant surface to the outside of the wheel.

The first practical pneumatic tyre was made in 1888 by Scots-born John Boyd Dunlop, proprietor of one of Ireland’s most prosperous veterinary practices. It was an effort to prevent the headaches his 10-year-old son was given by jarring while riding on rough pavements. In Dunlop’s tire patent specification dated 31 October 1888 his interest is only in its use in cycles and light vehicles.

In 1892, Dunlop’s patent was declared invalid because of prior art by forgotten fellow Scot Robert William Thomson of London. John Boyd Dunlop and Harvey du Cros together worked through the ensuing considerable difficulties. They employed inventor Charles Kingston Welch and also acquired other rights and patents which allowed them some limited protection of their Pneumatic Tyre business’ position. Pneumatic Tyre would become Dunlop Rubber, and then Dunlop Tyres.

The vulcanization of natural rubber which he patented in 1844 is credited to Charles Goodyear and Robert William Thomson.

Synthetic rubbers were invented in the laboratories of Bayer in the 1920’s who we have spoken about in previous blogs about polyurethane.

The first introduction of rubber tyres into the wheel and castor industry came about in the early 1950’s, when large European manufacturers opened their doors for the first time, and production of metal swivel and fixed castors were produced. These companies would buy in their rubber parts from various manufacturers and fit round their own wheel centres. By the early 1970’s some of these companies started to produce their own rubber rings in basic colours of black and grey. As the wheel and castor industry grew through the next two decades, different types of rubber wheels were produced to meet the needs of the world’s markets, such as softer rubbers, different colour rubbers and high-temperature rubber.

These are all available on our website.

360 castors can offer all types of rubber wheel from sizes 50mm up to 500mm whether it’s solid rubber, elastic rubber (for more shock absorption) to pneumatic options which include our special puncture proof wheels. Please call the 360 Castors & Wheels sales team on 01159 722782 for more information.