The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-12-21


but also to lhe strength of the roads to
be trave.ed and the kind of wagon they
have strength to support
Tests have been made from time to
time of the effect of wide tires not
merely on the roads, but also on the
pull required to move the loads. Among
these tests have been those made by
the British Association For the Ad-
vancement of Science in 1902, by the
experimental station of Missouri uni
versity of 1897 and more recently by
the United States war department.
The results in all cases have been
practically the same:
First.-With regard to the roads it is
found that wide tires leave a road in
better condition than before passing
over it.
Second.-As to tractive effect, the
only practical disadvantage of wide
tires arises where the road is so soft
that the wheels sink into it and the
mud sticks to the rims and packs be-
tween the spokes. On very hard.
smooth roads or roads covered with
dust wide tires require Il very slightly
increased tractive effort On all other
classes of roads the advantage is in
favor of the wide tire.
The practical application of the re-
suit of tests is that for traffic on coun-
try roads if wide tires of four inches
and upward are generally used there
would be Il decided Improvement in
every class of road. The tractive DOW
er required would be less and the cost
of keeping the roads in repair would
be much reduced. If all farm wagons
were equipped with wide tires the
muddest and stickiest of our roads
would be very much improved and
many of what are now known as bad
roads would he for the most of the
year in fair condition.
While the majority of wagons CON
tinue to have narrow tires the few
having wide tires are heavier to draw
on very muddy and sticky clay roads.
but on the great majority of roads, the
average country roads, the advantage
is in favor of the tire four inches wide.
1t is urged against wide tires that
they do not roll freely in the ruts
made by narrow tires. SO long as mar
row tires are commonly used this will
be the case to some extent; but, on the
other hand. if wide tires were general
ly used the rutS would not exist.
In any case. with narrow tires the
bottom Of the ruts made by the mar
row tires are uneven. and the narrow
rims are constantly grinding against
the sides of the ruts. creating the
greatest friction. so that the objection
able difference is not so great as it
appears on first sight, if it exists at all.
1t is further contended that the wide
tires come in contact with more loose
stones than do those with a narrow
tread The greater resistance offered
in this way is more than counterbal-
anced, however. by the loose stones
dropping into the narrow ruts
In the one case the wheel goes to
the stone: in the other the stone gets
in front of the wheel The irregular
bottom of the rutS and the stones in
the narrow rrts keep up a constant vi
bration of the wagon. which transmits
a swinging motion to the tongue. gall
ing and annoying the horses and de-
structive to conveyanccs.
A provincial law coming into effect
after term Of rears requiring a stat
ed width Of tire for certain sizes of
wagon aXles would rot create hard
ship, might he accompanied by a re-
bate of taxes or small bounty and
would result in benefit to the roads.
decrensinc the cost of maintenance.