You rely on our car’s tires every time we get behind the wheel of our General Motors vehicle, yet there’s probably a lot you don’t know about these crucial rubber components. Here are a few interesting facts about car tires, their history, and their future.
They weren’t always black
It wasn’t until the early 1900s that carbon black was added to enhance durability and thus longevity. Many different materials were used in tires in the early years, so their particular hue could vary.
Spares aren’t meant to last long
If you get a flat tire and have to drive on the spare, only use it to get you to safety. After that, replace the tire immediately. Just as importantly, when driving on a spare, don’t surpass 50 mph, or you may risk another blowout.
Airless tires are coming
We’re used to putting air in car tires to keep them properly inflated, but that could be a thing of the past. Soon, airless tires, which are already in use for industrial vehicles, will enter the market on mass production models.
LEGO™ makes more tires than any other company
Sure, they’re LEGO™ brick-sized, but the company technically makes more than 306 million tires every year.
Tires can be overinflated
You may think that underinflated tires are the cause of flats, but over-inflation can also lead to issues.
If your car, truck, or SUV needs new tires, contact the Champion Chevrolet Buick GMC service department. We’ll order and install a new set right away.