The tires of any automobile, bicycle, or other wheeled vehicle are generally the only part of that vehicle that is in constant contact with the surface of the roadway. As such, they are a crucial part of the vehicle's design, being integral to any consideration of its potential speed and maneuverability, the comfort of its ride, and its safety. The pneumatic tire is beneficial in all these aspects when compared with solid tires--and certainly when compared with bare wheel rims.

Modern pneumatic tires follow a design that is not much different from John Boyd Dunlop's. They consist of a continuous air-filled rubber cushion that forms a ring around the rim of a wheel. This is surrounded by outer protective layers that help maintain the integrity of the crucial inner tube. Rubber and rubberized fabric are still the basic components, and steel wire is still used to hold the tire to the rim. Chemicals are added to the rubber to improve its resistance to wear, heat, and aging. Dunlop's original tires were made from natural rubber, which is slightly air-permeable and hence suffered from very slow deflation, just like a balloon. The inner tubes of modern tires use synthetic butyl rubber, which is much more impermeable.

Robert William Thomson's invention of the pneumatic tire in 1846 was far ahead of its time. His design was rather elaborate, and, although it worked well, was too costly and impractical. Nevertheless, his experiments with horse-drawn wagons did establish significant improvements in traction on a variety of surfaces. Had there been sufficient demand for his innovation, history would have remembered and celebrated Thomson, and not Dunlop, as the true inventor of the pneumatic tire.

Dunlop, on the other hand, was also lucky. In 1888, he independently "reinvented" the pneumatic tire at a crucial point in the history and development of transportation. Cycling was just beginning to take off, and the internal combustion engine was soon to be invented, giving birth to the motorcar. Equally important was the fact that the rubber industry and rubber technology were well established in Dunlop's time. The pneumatic tire took cycling from the realm of racing, where only the most determined sportsmen would tolerate such excessive vibrations, and turned it into a highly popular pastime that could be enjoyed by all. Moreover, in practical terms, the motorcar would have been impossible without pneumatic tires. All of these factors contributed to the demand for, and success of, Dunlop's pneumatic tires.

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