Tire Industry Association: While traditionally a male-dominated industry, the tire trade benefits from the many contributions of women. Whether employed as tire technicians or company presidents, women are an active part of the business, according to the Tire Industry Association. To showcase women’s contributions, TIA published a feature on this topic in its quarterly magazine this year: “Women to Watch in the Tire Industry.”

Rubber Manufacturers Association: Rubber, one of the main components of tires, got its name in the 18th century when Joseph Priestly, who also discovered oxygen, noticed that the substance could rub out pencil marks made on paper. This is one of the fun facts the Rubber Manufacturers Association touts on its website. Did you also know that 70 percent of all rubber used today is synthetic? Or that 90 percent of the world’s natural rubber supply comes from Southeast Asia?

Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau: Putting a new tread on a worn tire can save a lot of energy and resources. It takes almost 22 gallons of oil to manufacture a new tire but only about 7 gallons to retread a used one. That’s according to the Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau, an association that aims to inform the motoring public about the economic and environmental benefits of tire retreading and repair.

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