An elastomeric compression spring comprising: an elongated hollow tube defined as a circumferentially closed sidewall having a central axis, wherein: the tube includes an inner surface facing towards the central axis and an outer surface facing away from the central axis, the outer surface and the inner surface being separated by a variable distance defining a thickness of the tube, the thickness being related to a stiffness of the tube; the central axis is a geometric center of the tube; the elongated hollow tube is configured to compress in a direction perpendicular to the central axis; the outer surface of the elongated hollow tube comprises an initial contact line configured to initially receive a compressing contact; the elongated hollow tube further comprises either at least one groove formed in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line; whereby the at least one groove creates a localized reduction in a thickness of the elongated hollow tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one groove, wherein a depth of the at least one groove corresponds with a magnitude of decrease in a load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring; a length of the at least one groove corresponds with a range of displacement of the elongated hollow tube during which the load-displacement rate decreases; and a circumferential distance (d) of the at least one groove away from the initial contact line corresponds with a displacement of the elongated hollow tube at which the decrease in the load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring begins; or at least one rib formed in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line; whereby the at least one rib creates a localized increase in a thickness of the elongated hollow tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one rib, wherein a height (h) of the at least one rib corresponds with a magnitude of increase in a load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring; a length of the at least one rib corresponds with a range of displacement of the elongated hollow tube during which the load-displacement rate is increased; and a circumferential distance (d) of the at least one rib away from the initial contact line corresponds with a displacement of the elongated hollow tube at which the increase in the load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring begins: the tube includes an inner surface facing towards the central axis and an outer surface facing away from the central axis, the outer surface and the inner surface being separated by a variable distance defining a thickness of the tube, the thickness being related to a stiffness of the tube; the central axis is a geometric center of the tube; the elongated hollow tube is configured to compress in a direction perpendicular to the central axis; the outer surface of the elongated hollow tube comprises an initial contact line configured to initially receive a compressing contact; the elongated hollow tube further comprises either at least one groove formed in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line; whereby the at least one groove creates a localized reduction in a thickness of the elongated hollow tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one groove, wherein a depth of the at least one groove corresponds with a magnitude of decrease in a load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring; a length of the at least one groove corresponds with a range of displacement of the elongated hollow tube during which the load-displacement rate decreases; and a circumferential distance (d) of the at least one groove away from the initial contact line corresponds with a displacement of the elongated hollow tube at which the decrease in the load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring begins; or at least one rib formed in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line; whereby the at least one rib creates a localized increase in a thickness of the elongated hollow tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one rib, wherein a height (h) of the at least one rib corresponds with a magnitude of increase in a load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring; a length of the at least one rib corresponds with a range of displacement of the elongated hollow tube during which the load-displacement rate is increased; and a circumferential distance (d) of the at least one rib away from the initial contact line corresponds with a displacement of the elongated hollow tube at which the increase in the load-displacement rate of the elastomeric compression spring begins: