• 2-minute read
• 29th April 2020

Spelling Tips: Tire or Tyre?

If you’re used to American English, you may not know the spelling “tyre.” This is a homophone of “tire” used in other English dialects, such as British and Australian English. But when is it used? To help you avoid errors in your writing, we’ve prepared this quick guide to “tire” and “tyre.”

Tire in American English

In American English, the word “tire” has two key meanings:

• As a verb meaning “grow weary or sleepy”
• As a noun that refers to a rubber wheel covering

Thus, in the USA, you can write a sentence like:

I tire of your constant talk of tires.

And however you’re using this word, you know the correct spelling is “tire”! But this isn’t the case outside North America, such as in the UK or Australia, where they also use the spelling “tyre.” Let’s see how this works.

Tyre in British English

“Tyre” is the spelling British English uses for a rubber wheel covering. We can see the difference between British and American English below:

British English: The new tyres gave the truck better grip in icy weather.

American English: The new tires gave the truck better grip in icy weather.

The same is true for other English dialects influenced by British English, such as Australian English. But all English dialects use the spelling “tire” for becoming weary or sleepy, so don’t get these terms mixed up!

Summary: Tire or Tyre?

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. Remember:

• Tire is a verb meaning “grow weary.”
• A tyre is a wheel covering made of rubber.

Keep this in mind if you’re using British English or another dialect influenced by British English! And if you’d like someone to check your spelling, you can always send it to us for proofreading.