The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-11-12
THE WIDE TIRE.
Discussion of It's Draft as Compared
with the Old-Fashioned
Marrow Tire.

In many parts of the prairie states
gravel or similar material for surfacins
the roads is not readily available and
the question that confronts these Sec
tions at present Is how to have the best
roads from the n.Aterial at hand.
One very impor .Hnt factorin the pro-
duction and maintenance Of good 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
wide-tired wagon, as compared with
those having the o~ld-fashioned narrow
tire.
The belief that increasing the width OF
tire increases the draft doubtless arises
from the fact that as a rule the increase
In width of tire is accompanied by a de-
crease in the diameter of the wheel. The
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, a 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 3 6inches
in front, and 40 to Al 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 III
gained in convenience.
"On good roads, increasing the length
of rear axle so that the front and reaz
wheels will run in different tracks tc
avoid cutting ruts, did not increase the
draft. On sod, cultivated ground, and
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 announcement 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 so 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 tria.
where 40 per cent. more power was re-
quired to draw a load on a wagon hav.
ing 11A-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 fol
heavy loads. In France the tires mus
be from three to ten inches, according
to the load, and the front axle must BIZ
shorter than the rear axle to prevent
tracking" In Austria wagons carry,
ing "a tons must have tires at leas'
41-3 inches wide, and every load ovel
Az tons must be carried on tires 6H
inches in width. switzerland has SINH
lar regulations.