As long as there have been vehicles, drivers throughout the ages have had a need for speed. You can’t break speed records, however, without tyres to match the ride. Which tyre manufacturers, then, have been making a name for themselves in the world of endurance and speed?
Getting started: Michelin established the benchmark
It was the Michelin company that first took advantage of people’s love of racing. In 1898, Gaston De Chasseloup-Laubat opted to use Michelin tyres to set the world’s first tyre speed record. With help from an early electric motor, Chasseloup-Laubat took to an abandoned road and went faster than any other person had to that date – a rocking 39 miles per hour (63.13 km/h).
While this may not seem like a significant clip by today’s standards, it was, at the time, an achievement of both man and machine. Many would try to beat Chasseloup-Laubat’s record, but no one would manage for several years to come. It would take a force on the other side of the world, in fact, to push Chasseloup-Laubat and Michelin off of the winner’s block.
Ford and Firestone: a match made in heaven
After Michelin’s inadvertent success, it quickly became a race to see which driver – and subsequently, which tyre manufacturer – could set the next tyre speed record. Henry Ford himself took on the challenge, manufacturing two cars – the Arrow and the 999 – to put the American automotive industry on the map.
It took several tries for Ford to find his footing. In 1904, however, he was able to reach 91.3 miles per hour (149.9 km/h) while crossing the frozen lake, St. Clair. The world’s newest record holder was the 999 Red Devil, named so for its bright red body paint.
In setting the new record, Henry Ford not only made a name for Ford but for the affiliated Firestone tyres. This victory on Ford’s part would kickstart a long-term partnership between Ford and Firestone that is still in place to this day.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t all fun and games in 1904. Automotive manufacturers and officials in Europe refused to recognize Ford’s new record, claiming that the lack of a European presence at his run made his results invalid. Even so, Ford was able to use his success to promote his cars on an international scale, and sales of both the vehicles and of Firestone tyres skyrocketed.
Continental broke speed records with their standard tyres Europe strikes back
Even though Europeans would denounce Ford’s victory in the United States, manufacturers and drivers alike would work avidly to break his record. That drive served them well, as it took a mere five years to do so. In 1909, German designer Julius Ganss worked alongside Mercedes to develop a car that could withstand speeds of 120 miles per hour (200 km/h) or more. Fred Marriot had previously gone faster than this in his Stanley Rocket, but his use of a steam engine made his development less influential in the automotive industry.
As such, Ganss and Mercedes reached out to Fritz Erie upon the completion of the Benz GP. While Erie didn’t surpass 120 miles per hour, he did reach 99.7 miles per hour (159.3 km/h), soundly thrashing Ford and bringing the tyre speed record back to Europe. Within a few months, the Benz GP would ride again, and its alterations would allow it to reach speeds of 125.9 miles per hour (202.7 km/h).
Continental saw the greatest benefit from this success, as Erie and Mercedes used Continental tyres in both races. Now able to steal the title of “World’s Fastest Tyres” for themselves, they were able to compete with Ford and Firestone for international tyre sales.
Dunlop’s long run home
In the decades following Continental and Benz’s success, several other tyre companies and automotive manufacturers would attempt to win the title of “World’s Fastest Tyres.” No company or tyre manufacturer, however, would have as long a run of success as Dunlop and Sunbeam.
From 1927 to 1947, Dunlop would provide Sunbeam with specialized tyres designed to reduce a car’s roadway resistance. These tyres worked to great effect, breaking tyre speed records in 1927, 1935, and 1947. While the cars and drivers may have differed, it was always Dunlop’s reinforced tyres that were able to outpace the competition.
Tyre speed records in the 21st century
Dunlop’s record for success held out for several decades, but it was eventually going to come to an end. Tyres in the 21st century aren’t just made from reinforced rubber. In an attempt both to revolutionise the tyre and to win back the tyre speed record, Michelin emerged with the carbon fibre tyre.
As of September 2019, Michelin was able to provide Bugatti with the carbon fibre tyres it needed to break the tyre speed record once again. Instead of wading into the low hundreds, however, Bugatti and Michelin drove the world’s first supercar to go over 300 miles per hour (482.8 km/h).
For now, then, the tyre speed record is back with the company that first broke it. It seems, though, that the future of tyres – and the tyre speed record – lies with alternative materials.
Whichever tyre manufacturer will break the tyre speed record next will not only open drivers up to a new kind of travel but will also produce a tyre that’ll be longer lasting than any that have come before it.