The San Francisco call., 1909-10-17
PROPER IMITATION
IMPORTANT SUBJECT
Many BlowOuts Traceable to a
Lack of Due Observ-
ance of Care

1t is not at all uncommon for blow
out to occur while driving along at
moderate rate of speed on a perfectly
smooth pavement. and burst does not
necessarily take place at the precise
moment when the object comes in con-
tact with the tire, states Austin KAN
zee of the Phoenix rubber company,
which handles the Republic tires. The
car strikes an object and tremendous
strain is put on the fabric. 1t does not
give way. It nearly bursts-but not
quite The fabric is weakened and
near the bursting point and the return
is made to the garage without any
signs of the damage done Next morn
ing the car is taken out The tire Is
weak from the blow it received the day
before. But it holds for time. sud
denly the burst occurs. The driver
thinks it is the fault of the tire be-
cause he is driving on an absolutely
smooth surface. Not so! The blow OF
the day before did the damage.
Two of the most important points to
be remembered with regard to tires is
to see that in the first place the load
which is placed upon them is not ex-
cessive and, secondly, that they are at
all times properly inflated. Up to a few
years ago too little attention was given
by the manufacturers to the proper
tire equipment of their cars, and con-
seauentIy many cars were turned out
with tires which were later on found
too small to stand up for any reason
able length of time. In order TO MT
larger tires it was necessary to have
the felloes of the wheels built up and
new rims fitted. To overcome this
many of the tire manufacturers now
make number of special sizes. Prac-
ticaI experience and scientific formula
combined give an exact size of tire for
a car and a line to the manufactures
of the tire used will bring table con-
tanning information relative to the load
carving capacity of their tires and the
necessary imitation.
AS to the proper amount of imitation
all makers cry Pump up your tires'
A tire is not properly inflated unless
IL stands up full and round under its
load. If 1t shows a depression when
the car is standing, then in use the
fabric must undergo terrific distortion,
bending, twisting and grinding. One
tire concern does not believe In the
rule tire should stand up round un-
der the load is the safest and most
emphatfcally advises the use of a
gauge, stating that every tire Is mace
to contain q specific air pressure. III
car required 10 pounds per tire and
the owner only uses 80 pound pressure
he is giving the tire third less back
bone than it needs and deliberately re-
ducing its life and wearing ability
more than a third. He can not gauge
proper tire imitation by feeling the tire,
nor by kicking it, nor by seeing how
much it is hattened on the ground.
1t is not enough to know that the tire
is partially inflated, because 1T is inn
possible to get the best results unless
the tire is properly inflated to the exact
pressure required There are pressure
testers on the market which gauge
imitation accurately and instantly.
There is nothing TO do but remove
the valve cap and press the tester
firmly over the valve, and a pin forces
the valve plunger down, admitting the
air to the gauge, which shows the pres
sure. If the tires are not standing up
as they should the owner should con-
suit the tire manufacturer, secure a
weight and pressure table, then weigh
his car If the tires are overloaded
and the owner is unable TO get a
special size that will give satisfaction
| he should fit the proper rims and tires
| at once. The first cost will be less
| than the constant bill of expense which
he can not avoid so long as the tires
/ are too small for the weight they have
| TO carry. Test the tires often. IL the
1 owner initiates them properly in the
beginning yet finds the pressure grad
ually decreasing he should examine
the valves and fit new plungers, seeing
| that they are alright.