<P> The first radial tire designs were patented in 1915 by Arthur W. Savage, a tire manufacturer (1915 - 1919), and inventor in San Diego, CA . Savage's patents expired in 1949 . </P> <P> Michelin in France designed, developed, patented, and commercialized the radial tire . There is no evidence that Michelin had knowledge of Arthur Savage's earlier work . The first Michelin X radial tire for cars was developed in 1946 by Michelin researcher Marius Mignol . Michelin owned the leading automaker Citroën, so it was quickly able to introduce its new design, including on the new 1948 Citroën 2CV model . In 1952, Michelin developed a radial truck tire . </P> <P> Because of its significant advantages in durability and fuel economy, this technology spread quickly in Europe and Asia in the 1950s and 1960s . </P> <P> In 1968, Consumer Reports, an influential American magazine, acknowledged the superiority of the radial tire design, documenting its longer tread life, better steering characteristics, and less rolling resistance, which increases gas mileage . </P>

What's the difference between radial and cross ply tyres