Tyres, tubes and flaps are all essential to autos; without tubes, tyres would not hold their shape, and without flaps, mud, dirt and other undesirable substances would easily clog the inner workings of the vehicle. Here is a quick look at the materials used to produce these common, everyday objects.

The first version of the tyre was of solid rubber; today’s tyres are constructed of rubber, fabric and sometimes steel. The modern tyre is a combination of several layers of material (plies), usually polyester cord, which are placed horizontally under the tread. The tread is made of rubber, usually a combination of natural and manmade materials. The whole tyre is held together by the sidewall, which runs along the side of the tyre (on both sides).

Inside most modern tyres is a tube, designed to hold the air which keeps the tyre inflated. Tubes come in sizes to fit every imaginable tire, even tractors, airplanes and industrial vehicles. They are most often made of butyl rubber (derived from petrol). The negative of this product is that they do not biodegrade, meaning landfills are full of them. A surprising solution to this problem is using recycled rubber tubes for designer items, particularly handbags.

Flaps (more commonly “mud flaps”) not only keep the mud and dirt thrown from the wheels of the vehicle from being flung all over passers-by, but they keep these materials from damaging the undercarriage of your vehicles.

Tyres, tubes and flaps are not likely to disappear anytime soon; recycling is one way to limit their damaging effects on the environment.