Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-13
TIRE TROUBLE IS
FAULT or DRIVER
Throwing on Brakes for Quick Stops
Bad Practice-Racing Pilots
More Careful Than
Laymen

Data collected by the tire manufac-
turers all over the country and care
fully analysed by experts lead to the
conclusion that a large part of the
tire trouble that forms the bane Of
the motorist is the direct result OF
carelessness or ignorance.
A study of the proper and simple
precautions for taking care of tires
would reduce the number of tire trou-
bles surprisingly and indirectly add to
the value of the automobile, for 1t Is
an admitted fact that a motor car Is
no better than its tires, and the best
machine In the world with punctured
tube is for the time being of less use
than the cheapest of vehicles whose
tires are holding the air.
The trouble comes mainly from the
unwillingness of the average motorlst
to give the proper attention to the
subject.
Most men who have amassed the
means to become motorists have Dig
business interests which limit thelr
time, and when they come to pleasure
they want to get entirely away from
any necessity of working.
Left to the Chauffeur
Hence the all-important question OF
watching to keep the tires right Is
left to the drivers and the chauffeurs,
portance of the subject.
When anything happens driver and
owner alike lay tho blame on the man
ufacturer of the tire, when In reality
the maker may be entirely blameless
of fault, the tire having yielded only
after being subjected to maltreatment
that rubber and fabric were never IN
tended to survive.
The tire of today can hardly be
called an experiment. 1t has gone be-
yond that stage and closely approaches
mechanical perfection.
The best demonstration Of this can
be found in the tire service whlch Is
obtained by the drivers of racing cars;
These men have learned the vital
lesson of taking care of their tires.
They know now that not only their
speed, but their safety are entirely at
the mercy of the cylinders of rubber
around the wheels, and with this In
mind they give such close attention
that the tires stand up marvelously
under the terrific strain of races.
Generally speaking. the main cause
of poor work by tires are improper at
tachment, inadequate imitation, the use
of wrong sizes, careless driving ana
hard service.
ANY one of the Ave causes will be
potent to spoil the work of the best
tiremaker in the business, and COM
bination OF two or three of them would
be fatal.
First. it is important to get a good
tire: cheapness is often the worst ex-
traVagance. Second, it is vital to Sc
Iect one that is strong enough to do
the work.
Reserve Force In Big Tire
A tire of ample size provides the re-
serve force that will minimize the ell
fects of any hidden strain, while saw
ing the tire protect the machine from
the bad effects of jarring
The tire should be big enough TO
sustain the load. Many tiremakers
furnish tables which tell you just how
much weight can justly be put on the
various sizes of tires.
Particularly is this true of the rear
wheels, since It is their function TO
support quarters Of the total
! weight
II is better to have a tire twice
stronger and bigger than it is 5 per
| cent short of the adequate enduring
power.
Careless driving is the cause of the
blowouts. rim cutting and excessive
| thread wear. These can be almost en-
tirely avoided by the proper care.
! The failure to take certain precau-
lions in caring for the tire is fecund
cause of rotting of the fiber and chem
ical changes that bring in theil train
punctures and deterioration.
If the brakes could be taken off au-
| tomobiles the life Of all tires would be
extended not less than 25 per cent.
The habit of some drivers of throw
! ing on the brakes hard at the slightest
! possible excuse is the main cause OF
| tire wear.
Only in emergencies, when human