The black round things that keep our cars on the road that we call tyres or tires (US spelling) has been around for more than 100 years but the concept of it has not really changed. It is still filled with air or nitrogen and will puncture if it hits a nail or a sharp object. Tyres of course have become stronger, more durable and also more resistant to heat and also is able to withstand more damage. Comparing a tyre made in the 1990s and a tyre now, the new tyre is able to withstand much higher speeds (high performance tyres) and offer much better grip and return better fuel economy.
Materials used to make tyres have also evolved in search for better performance.
Many years ago a concept developed by Michelin appeared in some car magazines and this concept tyre did not use air. The outer tread is suspended on rubber spokes on the inside (kind of like a bicycle wheel). Many observers thought that this idea was brilliant since the tyres will never go flat due to a nail or damage from sharp objects. It is still unsure why until today it has not gone into production. Perhaps the tyre companies probably thought that they would loose a lot of money from the reduction of replacement tyre sales resulting in damaged tyres. The tyre companies would only make money on selling replacement tyres that had no more tread left. There is also the possibility that the spokes inside could make the ride harder since you cannot alter the air pressure inside.
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