The making of a tire has come a long way in 135 years.

First used in 1845 as a cushioning agent for a Brougham, the original tire was composed of several layers of canvas saturated in a rubber solution.

In contrast, today's tire is expected to perform in any storm or weather condition it encouters —flood, wind, hail, snow, ice, scorching heat, sand, or mud— without inconvenience and usually without even the slightest discomfort to the operator.

The passenger tire must indefinitely carry loads from 50 to 80 times its weight;​ fOr shorter durations, up to 80 to 100 times. In addition, it must simultaneously undergo severe deflections and distortions from cornering, braking, and accelerating as it sustains impact, shock, heat, chemical attack, cutting, and abuse.

A tire designer uses prior art, many years of experience, and the technical world's sophisticated approaches in materials, testing techniques, and methods of analysis. Many tire designs in this highly competitive industry have involved more development and testing man-hours, both directly and indirectly, than any other mechanical monostructure of similar weight. Finally, the tire designer may find it necessary to fine-tune a completed and satisfactory design to meet specific customer demands with an effort nearly equal to that which was originally expended.

This article describes some of the challenges a tire designer faces, from the results of micro-measurements of the tri-axial pin to the macro-measurements of wet and dry traction, hydro-planing and snow testing, and methods of analysis.