New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-14
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
DECEPTION in Tire Sizes ArouSeS
British Motorists.
INVESTIGATION IS WANTED
Overland 80" for 1918, Fully
Equipped, Will Be Remark
able Car Value.


Agitation Is growing in England In
| favor Of an investigation to place the re-
sponsibnity for understood tires. list
Of tests made since the matter Was Arst
brought to tho attention Of the public
month ago show that tires made By SIX
different firms differ considerably be
tween actual and branded diametcrs. or
twenty shoes measured. only two were
larger than their ostensible sizes, the re-
maindcr being smaller. some OF the varis-
tions being startling
Anything that savors Of helping Amer
team cars in foreign countries finds no
favor IN the sight 81 the average Brit
! Usher, and this matter 81 tire deception,
! IL Is feared, viii have an adverse effect
on Britlsh-nsde cars in the colonies The
( following comment appears I'm recent
| issue % The Field:
When our cars are sent 10 tho colo
7 MES I'm competition with American cars
| often they are at a disadvantage be
| cause the American tire sizes are cor
rect. and therefore provide more clear
snce and comfort with similarly marked
wheels The taxi-uslng public. perhaps,
! is the most seriously imposed upon. as II
IL clear that the ta1imeter that has been
tested and approved on a full-sIsed whsel
viii overreglstor and ovcrcharge tho rare
on an understood tire.
| We find IN Tho Autocar' list that a
| 10 milimetrc tire-a common taxi size
! Is but ~ millImetres. This, when we add
the additional loss caused by the sag OF
| the tire under the weight of the vehicle.
probably will mean al overreglstcr Of
| from 10 10 10 per cent I'm the distance
covered
| The defence offered by tho culprits ap-
psrently Is that the stamped sizes arc
| merely nominal aud that they arc not
binding nor are they given or suggested
as being actual. That defence may he
accepted by those who like IT. but Il IL
rejected by us We have never heard of
nominal Sizes In tire covers, and wo do
! not think that an argument OF that sort
would have much chance of acceptance
| by one Of his majesty's high court judges.
| In our opinion. the legal aspect is 80
/ grave that its possible ramifcations are
difficult TO limit, while the moral aspect
no doubt will shock many people who
| have strict Ideas OF commercial honor
/ As the list In question indicates. not tho
| least of the evils which follow this prac
! tice IS the complete loss of standardlza-
/ ton in value and air capacity, for while
one maker merely cribs five or ten MILL
metres from his cover sizes another
: nine hes three times as much
! "As many motorists use tires indiscrim-
inately-that is to say, often have four
covers of different brands on their wheels
at the same timc--the variation may con-
ceivably have very pronounced and de-
leterious effects on the comfort and run
ming of the car.
In conformity with It's policy Of offer
Ing motor car buyers the best at minimum
cost the Willys-Overland Company. of
Toledo, has again startled the industry
by Offering for 1918 "a 3o-horsepower five
passenger, roredoor touring car, fully
equipped, for 1888.
The new model includes In its regular
| equipment a self-starter, Warner speed
! ometer. mohair top and boot. clear vision
automatic wind shield OF new design,
! Prest-o-lite gas tank, Remy magnetic and
! battery, robe rail and foot rest, tire hold
ers on rear tonneau and other features.
The wheel base on the new car is ITO
inches while the body Is long and deep.
/ All bright parts are nickel instead OF brass
plated. while the radiator Is enamelled
! In keeping with the body finish. The
wheels are painted gray, with black strip
! ing and black hubs.
| The hood has been heightened several
! inches over the corresponding model OF
this year, allowing the motor to sit for
ward more than it did last season, which
makes for greater accessibility. The tom
neau is larger and the sides have been
raised nearly three inches. making
better arm rest and riding In general moro
comfortable. With the lengthening of the
| hood more leg room has been acquired
| for those In the front seat.
A noted Improvement has been made in
the braking system, an entirely new de-
sign being adopted. The contracting
brake has an inside diameter OF 10 inches
and the brake shoe is two and one-qusrter
| inches in width. The expanding brake
has a diameter Of 10 3-s inches.
There has been a noticeable elimination
OF oiling places. and wherever fabrication
is required nickelled grease cups have
been substituted for oil cups. The fore
parts OF the rear springs are inclosed by
sheet metal housing, instead of being
left exposed. Timken roller bearings are
used on the front ankle. in place OF ball
bearings. as was the case on the 1912
model.