the thick rubber coverings that go around the wheels of vehicles like cars and bikes.
From 'tire,' originally 'attire' (clothing), because early tires were fitted around wheels like clothing on a body. British spelling retained 'tyre' while American English shifted to 'tire.'
The first rubber tires (invented in 1888) revolutionized transportation because rubber bounces and grips better than solid wheels—before that, carriages were unbearably bumpy!
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