Tire Art II

Everything changed when the wheel was invented, but it took until 1887 before the tire, as we know it today, came into existence.

John Boyd Dunlop (yes, that Dunlop!) tried to come up with a solution for his son's bike. The wooden and/or iron tires were literally giving the little guy a headache, each time he rode his bicycle on the rough, bumpy roads.

Dunlop, who was actually a veterinarion, came up with the idea of glueing pneumatic, rubber tires on to the wheels of the bike and this example quickly found many followers.

The first tubeless tire was invented and patented in 1903 by the Goodyear Tire Company and the mounable rims came next in 1904. The latter meant that drivers were able to fix their tires in case they had a flat.

If you have already several tires lying around in your yard, you can convert them in to planters or use them for sculptures.

You don't have to be very creative or possess a great imagination coming up with something; several tires burried upright in a row, halfway in the ground, can result in a sea monster.

Of course you can also hang them from a sturdy branch and use them for swings; the wheels don't always have to go round and round! :-)