Reinvent the Wheel?

By Tara Shaikh

“Why were you going 2 mph in a 60 zone?”??

Because someone told me not to reinvent the wheel.

“Don’t reinvent the wheel”—the battle cry of the comfortably uninspired. What it really means is: “Don’t mess with what I know works, because I don’t want to be uncomfortable.” It’s a safety net, a warm blanket for the risk-averse. And sure, I get it; nobody wants to be the person who breaks something perfectly functional. But let’s face it: if everyone followed that logic, we’d still be clunking around in horse-drawn carriages and sending text messages with smoke signals.

Good Enough is the Enemy of Great.

Reinventing the wheel isn’t about showing off your engineering prowess; it’s about looking at the status quo and daring to ask, “Can this be better?” Because the truth is, “good enough” has always been the biggest obstacle to “could be revolutionary.”

Every world-changing breakthrough began with someone giving a perfectly functional wheel the side-eye and thinking, “What if we put wings on this thing?” And that’s why, today, we don’t just roll—we fly.

So, why do people hold back? It’s the age-old fear of looking foolish. Nobody wants to be the person in the meeting with wild, half-baked ideas that draw laughs. But here’s the thing: every genius in history has had their “fool” moment. You can’t change the world by standing in front of a crowd and shrugging, “It’s not that bad.”

Real progress starts with acknowledging the wheel, appreciating its utility, and then flipping it over to see what else it can do. And sometimes, you don’t even need a wheel; you need something so groundbreaking that the old wheels gather dust in history’s garage.

Progress doesn’t come from repeating the same steps just because they’re familiar. It comes from taking that wheel, appreciating it for what it’s done, and then tearing it apart to build a jet engine—or, better yet, ditching the concept altogether and inventing teleportation.

Because, like those childhood Lego rockets, some things are worth building from scratch.

Break the Damn Wheel!

By the way... its been reinvented, just a few times:

1. The Original Invention (~3500 BC)

The first wheel was a simple, solid wooden disc used in Mesopotamia for pottery and eventually for transport.

2. Spoked Wheels (2000 BC)

Reinvented by adding spokes, these wheels were lighter and faster, making them ideal for chariots and enhancing mobility in warfare and transport.

3. Metal-Rimmed Wheels (Iron Age)

Adding metal rims to wooden wheels improved their durability and allowed them to withstand rough terrains, leading to advancements in ancient road transport.

4. Rubber Tires (1800s)

Charles Goodyear’s vulcanization of rubber and subsequent inventions led to the creation of the rubber tire, which made travel smoother and more comfortable.

5. Pneumatic Tires (Late 1800s)

John Boyd Dunlop’s invention of the air-filled tire transformed bicycles and early automobiles, providing shock absorption and better handling.

6. Radial Tires (1940s)

Michelin introduced radial tires that improved traction and durability, revolutionizing the auto industry and becoming the standard for vehicles worldwide.

7. Tubeless Tires (1950s)

These tires removed the need for an inner tube, offering better safety and performance, further pushing the evolution of the wheel for automobiles.

8. Alloy Wheels (1970s and onward)

Lighter and more durable than traditional steel wheels, alloy wheels became popular for both aesthetic and performance reasons, especially in racing and sports cars.

9. Run-Flat Tires (1980s)

Invented to allow vehicles to continue running even after a puncture, enhancing safety and convenience for drivers.

10.??Smart and Adaptive Wheels (21st Century)

Modern reinventions include “smart” wheels with integrated sensors for self-adjusting tire pressure, and adaptive wheels designed to change shape or function based on driving conditions.

11. Non-Pneumatic & Airless Wheels

Advanced concepts like airless tires made of durable materials that never go flat, such as those designed by Michelin for military and heavy-duty applications.

12. Innovative Wheel Systems

Reinventions include omni-wheels for robots and specialized vehicles, which can move in any direction without turning, and hubless or spokeless wheels that offer unique design and functional benefits.

13. Concepts for Space Exploration

NASA and other space agencies have developed advanced wheels for rovers that adapt to extraterrestrial terrains, such as deformable mesh wheels for the Moon or Mars.

14. Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Designs

Newer reinventions focus on eco-friendly materials and production processes, with recycled and renewable materials now being used for tire production.

15. Coming soon.