tyre

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtʌɪə/
(US tire)

noun

  • a rubber covering, typically inflated or surrounding an inflated inner tube, placed round a wheel to form a soft contact with the road.
  • a strengthening band of metal fitted around the rim of a wheel, especially of a railway vehicle.

Derivatives

tyred

adjective
[in combination]: a rubber-tyred vehicle

Origin:

late 15th century (denoting the curved pieces of iron plate with which carriage wheels were formerly shod): perhaps a variant of archaic tire, shortening of attire (because the tyre was the ‘clothing’ of the wheel)

Spelling help

Spell tyre with a y (the spelling tire is American).