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Pirelli Ercole: A Herculean Tyre

Pirelli entered the automobile market in 1901 with the Ercole – “Hercules”. The name of this first Pirelli car tyre, which was patented that year, evokes the strength of the legendary Greek hero who managed to strangle two serpents even as a baby, and later performed the famous Twelve Labours. It was no easy task perfecting this new tyre and successfully launching it on the market. There were countless challenges to overcome as the new cars that were coming onto the roads in those early years of the twentieth century accelerated increasingly fast, reaching higher speeds and carrying ever greater loads. Tyre technology had yet to be invented, and the most critical hurdle was to keep the tyre firmly on the rim while driving. Pirelli engineers and technicians thus came up with the idea of two large rigid “heels” that would be wedged into the rim channel. The heels fitted precisely, enclosing the inner tube and forcing it to maintain its circular shape. A coupling system than was more efficient than that of the company’s competitors showed how Pirelli was focused on technology and innovation. Already in 1902, and then again in 1903, Pirelli published a complete instruction manual, which explained in a clear, detailed manner how to mount and remove the new tyres. Changing tyres was a fairly complicated operation in those days, and it required time and patience, but this was amply rewarded by the freedom and shorter travelling times enjoyed by the first adventurous motorists.

Pirelli entered the automobile market in 1901 with the Ercole – “Hercules”. The name of this first Pirelli car tyre, which was patented that year, evokes the strength of the legendary Greek hero who managed to strangle two serpents even as a baby, and later performed the famous Twelve Labours. It was no easy task perfecting this new tyre and successfully launching it on the market. There were countless challenges to overcome as the new cars that were coming onto the roads in those early years of the twentieth century accelerated increasingly fast, reaching higher speeds and carrying ever greater loads. Tyre technology had yet to be invented, and the most critical hurdle was to keep the tyre firmly on the rim while driving. Pirelli engineers and technicians thus came up with the idea of two large rigid “heels” that would be wedged into the rim channel. The heels fitted precisely, enclosing the inner tube and forcing it to maintain its circular shape. A coupling system than was more efficient than that of the company’s competitors showed how Pirelli was focused on technology and innovation. Already in 1902, and then again in 1903, Pirelli published a complete instruction manual, which explained in a clear, detailed manner how to mount and remove the new tyres. Changing tyres was a fairly complicated operation in those days, and it required time and patience, but this was amply rewarded by the freedom and shorter travelling times enjoyed by the first adventurous motorists.