Tyre Is the British Spelling, and It Came Back
A tyre is the rubber covering of a wheel. The spelling was revived deliberately in the 1900s.
A tyre is the rubber covering fitted around a wheel rim, spelled *tire* in American English. The British spelling is a deliberate revival: *tyre* appeared in the 1400s, died out in favour of *tire* by the eighteenth century, and was brought back by British writers around 1900 to distinguish the wheel covering from the verb meaning to weary. Americans never adopted the revival. The word probably comes from *attire*, the wheel's dress, since early tyres were iron bands fitted round wooden wheels.
- A wheel covering. *A punctured tyre.*
- Tire — the American spelling. *A tire.*
- An iron band. *An iron tyre.*
- Attire — the likely source. *Attire.*
- Revived — around 1900. *The spelling.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | tyre | A tyre. |
| Plural | tyres | Tyres. |
| American | tire | A tire. |
| Related | attire | Attire. |
| Compound | tyre pressure | Tyre pressure. |
- Check the tyre pressure.Maintenance.
- Americans write tire.Spelling.
- Early tyres were iron.History.
Spellings Britain revived or kept
- Tyre — revived around 1900 to separate it from the verb
- Kerb — kept distinct from curb, the restraint
- Cheque — kept distinct from check
- Draught — kept distinct from draft
- Each keeps a visible difference the American spelling merges
Probably from *attire*, the wheel's covering; the spelling *tyre* was revived in British English around 1900.
Why do the British write tyre?
The spelling was revived around 1900 to distinguish the wheel covering from the verb meaning to weary.
Which spelling is older?
Both are old. Tyre appeared in the 1400s, fell out of use, and returned; tire ran continuously.