The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-11-10
THE WIDE TIRE.
Discussion of Its Draft as Compared
with the old-Fashiened
Narrow Tire.

In many parts of the prairie states
gravel or similar material for surfacing
the roads is not readily available and
the question that confronts these Sec
lions at present is how to have the best
roads from the material at hand.
One very important factor in the pro-
duction and maintenance of goQ dirt
roads Is the use of the wide tire. The
advantage Of the wide tire in rolling
down the surface of the road and avoid
ing the formation of ruts is quite gen.
orally recognized, says the Prairie
Farmer. There is still some misappre-
hension, however, as to the draft of the
w1de-tired wagon, as compared with
those having the old-fashioned narrow
tire.
The belief that increasing the width OF
from the fact that as rule the increase
in width of tire is accompanied by de-
crease In the diameter of the wheel. Tbs
former, as shown by many trials de-
creases the draft, the latter very rapidly
increases it. The radius of the wheel
constitutes the lever arm through which
the power of the horse acts to move the
load. AS this lever is shortened the ad-
vantage OF the horse is decreased. In
other words, greater amount of power
must be applied to move the load:
The Missouri experiment station has
conducted numerous trials with wheels
Of different heights and the same width
of tire. The following are some of the
conclusions reached:
For the same load wagons with
wheels of standard height drew lighter
than those with lower wheels. The diff
ference in favor Of the standard wheels
was greater on road surfaces in bad con-
dition than on good road surfaces. Low
wheels cut deeper ruts than those Of
standard height. The vibration Of the
tongue is greater in wagons with low
wheels. For most purposes wagons with
low wheels are more convenient than
those OF standard height. Wagons with
broad tires and wheels of standard
height are cumbersome and require
much room in turning. Diminishing the
height of wheel to from 80 to So inches
in front, and 40 to A inches in the rear,
did not increase the draft in as great
proportion as it increased the con-
venience of loading and unloading the
ordinary farm freight Diminishing
the height of wheels below 80 inches
front and 40 inches rear, increased the
draft in greater proportion than 1t
gained in convenience.
ION good roads, increasing the length
of rear axle so that the front and rear
wheels will run in different tracks to
avoid cutting ruts, did not increase the
draft. On sod, cultivated ground, and
bad roads, wagons with the rear axle
longer than the front one, drew heavier
than one having both axles of the same
length. Wagons with the rear axle
longer than front one require wider gate
ways and more careful drivers, and are
on the whole, very inconvenient and not
to be recommended for farm us. The
best form of farm wagon Is one with
axles of equal length, broad tires and
wheels 80 to SO inches high in front and
40 to a. inches behind"
AS to the effect of the width of tire
where the diameter of the wheel remains
the same, the Seattle Post notes a trial
where 40 per cent. more power was re-
quired to draw load on a wagon hav-
ing 1k-inch tires than on a wagon hav-
ing three-inch tires. Tests at the Mis-
souri, station were very decidedly in
favor of the wide tire under practically
all conditions.
In this connection 1t may be noted
that many European countries have laws
regulating the width of tires. In Ger
many four-inch tires are required for
heavy loads. In France the tires must
be from three to ten inches, according
to the load, and the front axle must be
shorter than the rear axle to prevent
tracking" In Austria wagons carry
ing ~ tons must have tires at least
4 1-3 inches wide, and every load over
AZ tons must be carried on tires 6H
inches in width. Switzerland has SINH
lar regulations.