A keen cyclist, Dunlop came up with the idea for a pneumatic
tyre whilst watching his son struggling to ride his tricycle over
rough ground. At that time, wheeled vehicles had wooden or iron
rims or - at best - solid rubber tyres. Dunlop realised that by
encasing air within a rubber tube, he would be able to improve the
comfort of the tricycle's ride.
In 1888, Dunlop patented his design for a pneumatic tyre and
within 10 years it had completely replaced solid rubber. The
introduction of the pneumatic tyre coincided with the development
of the motor car, which eagerly continued the development of
Dunlop's invention. Dunlop himself had no connection with the
Dunlop Rubber Company which took his name. He died in 1921.
