What is the Difference: Tyres or Tires?

Which word do you prefer to use when talking about car tyres/tires?

If you're thinking about buying a set of car tires online, you may have noticed that some Google listings refer to "car tires" while others refer to them as "car tyres." Which is correct and why?

Here we'll explain the difference between these two terms.

Tyres or Tires?

There is no difference between 'tyres' and 'tires'. Tires are the standard American English spelling, whereas Tyres is the British English spelling.

If you are based in the United Kingdom, tyres sold online will use the British English spelling of 'tyres'- such as Tyres London and Tyres Birmingham.

Example:

Michelin Tyres United Kingdom Official
(www.michelin.co.uk)

Browse MICHELIN® Tires - Michelin Official Site
(www.michelinman.com)

Which is correct Tyres or Tires?

The spelling tyre is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and most current and former Commonwealth nations after being revived in the 19th century. Both tyre and tire were used in the 15th and 16th centuries. The United States did not adopt the revival of tyre, and tire is the only spelling currently used there.

What do Americans call Tyres?

For British motorists, the rubber wheel-covering is called a tyre – for the Americans it's a tire. In American English, you can use the spelling “tire” a both a verb meaning “grow weary” and a noun meaning “rubber wheel covering.” However, outside North America, “tyre” is a separate word.

Final Thought

Tire and tyre both mean a covering for a wheel, usually made of rubber. Tire is the preferred spelling in the U.S. and Canada. Tyre is preferred in most varieties of English outside North America.