Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-16
STANDARD TIRES
WOULD HELP PSOMF
AUTO OWNERS WOULD GAIN
THE BENEFITS
WOULD FURTHER CONVENIENCE
OF DRIVER AND MAKER
DemountabIe Rim Said to Be Result
of the Long Distance Road
Races Held in
1905

As years go by and no adequate sub
stitute for rubber appears, the PROPOSE
tion of tires for automobiles settles
down to the matter of uniform produc-
tion by the manufacturer and careful
maintenance by the user in order that
a reasonable mileage may be secured
from each shoe and each inner tube.
Undoubtedly, the greatest need at
present is Standardization of demount-
able rims This is a need felt both
by the automobile trade and the auto
mobile user. Some years ago among
other interesting work done by the
mechanical branch Of the licensed as
sociation we succeeded in standard
tzing clincher tires-a very practical
work and one that ought to be carried
on to include demountable rims. The
work of the tiremaker, automobile
manufacturer and automobile dealer
could be simplified and the convenience
of the automobile owner greatly fur-
thered.
Trouble for Chauffeur
1t is undoubtedly true that there are
n number of drivers who have large,
fast cars who do not believe IN De
mountable rims and who prefer the
lighter, simpler clincher tire Inese
automobilists usually drive with
chauffeur. so that in case they meet
with a puncture it does not make much
difference-the only trouble is the loss
of a. few minutes while the chauILeur
is making the tire change. ON the
other hand, the great mass OF drivers
have to do their own tire work, or
in a
tion where they are compelled to 90
IL. Consequently, whatever is easy,
quick and convenient is best; consid-
Grafton of weight, simplicity and neat
appearance are of less Importance.
1t is not generally known that the
demountable rim is the direct result
from long-distance road racing. in 1905
the last race for the International cup
was held in a very mountainous dis
trict of France, and tire troubles We're
extraordinary, even for race-al out
of proportion to the distance covered
OF course this difficulty was all fore
SEEN and big bands Of men were ready
To saw off tires and put on new ones
six or eight men working to wheel.
The absurdity of this waste of energy
and clumsy maneuvering impressed
everyone. That year saw the end OF
it, the demountable rim came out the
year following, and proved perfectly
sr1cessful.
Factories Too Busy
= Unfortunately, every new idea has
its manifold interpretations, and every
tire company approached the PROPOSE
ton from a different angle. The result
is that we have a very large number or
mechanical devices calculated to facil-
itate the removal and replacement of
rubber tires on automobiles. One asks,
"Why don't they get together and fix
things up so as to save, themselves
trouble and help the motorist?"
The answer to this is that the tire
companies have been very busy with
the manufacture Of tires. They nave
found it difficult TO fill a very large
demand and, what is more, a very much
diversified demand. The various auto
mobile companies order all sizes OF
tires. There are many diameters and
many widths, consequently all sorts of
combinations result, making it neces-
sarv for the tire company to produce
n great many different sizes of tires.
Further than this, there are numerous
threads" which further complicates
the situation. Also, most every tire
company has some peculiar device
that it has originated and consequently
desires to continue, because it usually
has some advertising value.
on top of all this comes the latest
agony in the form of very large wheels.
The big wheel is all very well in its
way, and it is, of course, a matter of
little moment to an automobile design
er like myself whether there is a de-
mand for large wheels or small ones
the proposition seems to be very much
of fad. If this be so, the tendency
toward very large wheels is a most
unwelcome one. because it tends to
make that much more work for the
tire company by introducing new sizes
and consequently delays the all i'm
portant work of Standardization of de-
Inountable rims.
A most important cause of easy rid
ing is reduction of weight below the
springs. The greater the dead load be-
low the springs the harder a car will
ride, consequently the Importance of
keeping tire equipment as light as
possible is easily understood.