Tire
![Stacked and standing car tires. The tire standing facing the camera does not contain the metal wheel, onto which the tire is put so that it can be mounted on a car.](/Images/godic/202501/07/Car_tires3312.jpg")
![Macro shot of a wheelbarrow tire with a tread pattern](/Images/godic/202501/07/Wheelbarrow_tyre3312.JPG")
![Styrene-butadiene copolymer (chemical structure pictured) is the most popular material used in the production of rubber tires.[10]](/Images/godic/202501/07/ESBR3312.png")
![Tire cross section showing components.](/Images/godic/202501/07/Bridgestone_tire_cross_section3312.png")
A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped vehicle component that covers the wheel's rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance. Most tires, such as those for automobiles and bicycles, provide traction between the vehicle and the road while providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock.