tyre S3 BrE AmE British English , tire American English /taɪə $ taɪr/ noun [countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: tire 'metal plates around a cart wheel' (15-19 centuries) , probably from tire 'equipment' (14-18 centuries) , from attire ; ⇨ ↑ attire ]
a thick rubber ring that fits around the wheel of a car, bicycle etc:
I had a flat tyre (=all the air went out of it) on the way home.
The spare tyre's in the boot.
front/rear/back tyre
a punctured front tyre
⇨ ↑ spare tyre
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + tyre
▪ a front/rear tyre
I bought a set of new front tyres.
▪ a flat tyre (=one which the air has come out of)
I had a flat tyre and had to walk home.
▪ a burst tyre
On lap two, Millar suffered a burst tire, which caused him to crash.
▪ a bald tyre (=one which has worn smooth)
When police officers examined the car, they discovered that it had two bald tyres.
▪ a car/lorry/bicycle etc tyre
They sell and fit car tyres.
▪ a spare tyre
Always carry a spare tire.
■ verbs
▪ change a tyre
I have never changed a tyre or looked under a bonnet.
▪ puncture a tyre
The tyre had punctured and had to be replaced.
■ tyre + NOUN
▪ the tyre pressure (=the force of the air in a tyre)
Have you checked the tyre pressure?
▪ tyre marks ( also tyre tracks ) (=marks left by tyres)
There were tire marks on the road close to where the crash happened.