Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-02-21


WIDE TIRE ROAD IN KANsAs.
hut also to the strength of the roads to
be travelled 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-
! raneement 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 1t 10
found that wide tires leave road IN
better condition than before passing
over It.
Second.--As to tractiye 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 aud packs be-
tween the spOkes. On very hard.
smooth roads or roads covered with
dust wide tires require 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 s that for traffic on cOun-
Try roads il wide tires Of four inches
and upward are generally used there
would be i decided improvement in
every class Of road. The tractive pow
er required would he less and the cost
of keeping the roads In repair would
be much reduced. III all farm wagons
were equipped with wide tires the
iuuddiest and stickiest OF our roads
would be very much improved aud
many OF what are now known as bad
roads would be for the most OF the
year III 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,
hut on the great majority Of roads. the
average country roads, the advantage
10 In favor OF the tire four inches wide
1t IL 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, II wide tires were general
" 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 sidss Of the ruts, creating the
greatest friction, 50 that the objection
able difference is not so great as I
appears on first sight II 1t exists at all
1t ID further commended that the wide
tires come In contact with more loose
stones than do those with narrow
tread. The greater resistance oReret
IL. this way il more than counterbal
anced, however. by the loose stone'
dropping into the narrow ruts.
In the one case the wheel goes Z
~ stone: In the other the stone get
IN front OF the wheel. The irregular
bottom or the ruts and the stones Il
the narrow ruts keep up constant II
bration Of the wagon, which transmit
swinging motion 70 the tongue, gall
Ing and annoying the horses and DC
structtve to conveyAnces.
i provincial law coming into effec
after term of years requiring stal
- Width 81 tire for certain sises Q
wancn axis would not create hard
phlp, naleht - accompanied BY n
bota q faxeu u 1 small bounty N