The Washington herald., 1916-05-07
AUTO TIRE CARE
A Big PROBLEM
Tubes Require Considerable
Attention if Best Results
Are TO Be Obtained.
SOME VALUABLE HINTS
Combination of Quality and Proper
Care Lead to Satisfactory Sery-
ice at Low Cost.

Tires like the engine or other parts
or car, require A reasonable amount
OF attention and care If the owner
expects to secure the best results
There have been many rehnements in
the construction of tires and those
built with quality for a base are very
dependable: in fact, the motorist or
dtnarily places so much confidence in
the tire equipment sometimes uncon-
sCiously, that the tires do not receive
the frequent inspection and attention
that Is considered necessary for the
car.
Should the engine overhead and the
bearings burn out. due to lack of lu-
brtcation, the result would not be con-
sidered an evidence of mechanical err
ror; 1t would be properly chargeable
to oversight and neglect
1t is not always possible to avoid
stones and other sharp objects ruts
and severe road conditions, and no at
tempt will be made to define certain
rules or offer impra Cticable sugges-
| tions to be followed in using tires. It
is the privilege of the purchaser of
| a tire to use it according to his own
ideas, but with more Information rela-
tive to tire conditions and with frank
friendly advice regarding the causes
remedies. etc, it will be possible, in
many instances, to increase the serv-
ice and decrease the annoyance and ex-
Denses. Quality alone, whether II per
tains to tires or car, will not insure
! the greatest efficiency. but COM
bination OF quality and proper care
will result in satisfactory service at
a low cost OF maintenance.
Selecting Your Tires.
The application. care and usage Of
tires are necessary things to consider
but it is essential to good service that
the correct type and size be adopted.
Car construction. power. lateral strains
and traction strains to the tires must
be kept in mind when deciding upon
diameter and cross section Of tire
equipment. but the weight Of car is
probably the most important thing
The weight of the car can be asCer-
tained by running the front half OF
it on platform scales. then rear half
and the weight carried by each tire
will be one-half OF the respective
amounts. Middle of wheel base will be
the weight dividing point between the
front and rear halves of car. The ap-
proaCh to the scales should be level
and. il reasonable care is exercised.
the total Of the two operations will be
within twenty or thirty pounds of the
weight of the car when all OF it is
upon the scales.
Ordering Your Tires.
Much delay and annoyance can be
avoided when ordering new tires by
specifying the style. Regular clincher
cases have stretchable beads and are
designed for use on regular clincher
lone piece, rims. thoy are sometimes
used also on quick detachable clncher
rims. When using regular clncher
tires on quick detachable ciincher rims.
lit is necessary to use flaps to protect the
inner tubes
Quick detachable clincher cases have
nOnstretchable beads and can only be
used on quick detachable cnncher rims
style Of tire shoul dalways he equipped
with flaps
Straight side or straight bead cases
have nonstretchable cables imbedded in
the base and are designed only for
quick detachable straight side rims
and split type of straight side rims.
This style should always be equipped
with flaps. Straight side tires are some
times used on quick detachable clinch-
Ter rims having filler beads fitted in
clincher of rims. THIS is not to be
recommended, however, as the base
width of this style of rim is not suit
able for straight side tires.
HinRing Action Develops.
Weight and distribution of car.
power, gear ratio. speed and other
e
gineers and tiremakers in determining
the tire sizes necessary for equip
ment. 1t will be appreciated. however,
that the usage OF cars will vary on
account of road conditions. Therefore
it is reasonable to expect some trouble
from the tires on a small percentage
of cars. even though the equipment
on majority of the cars proves salts
factory in every respect
when tires are loaded beyond their
normal carrying capacity, the fabric
is not only strained but develops more
hinginE acting and heat at edges of
tread. The materials employed in the
manufacture Of tires are limited in
strength, like other articles. and when
taxed beyond that point will not be
efficient.
Oversize tires were primarily de-
signed for the exceptional hard serv-
ice, but have come into general favor
because Of extra strength. easier rid |
ing cushion and longer mileage. in
fact experienced car owners specify |
the oversize tires, in many instances
for original equipment of new cars.
The resilienCy Of larger tires reduce
the traction slippage on rear wheels. |
adds to comfort and lessons vibration
to the mechanism of the car.
When oversize tires are placed on |
front wheels that were originally
equipped with regular-SlZe tires. the |
overall diameter will be increased ap-
DroXimately one inch and the speed
ometer should be readjustd. otherwise |
the mileage record will be less than that
actually travelled.
Advantages of Tires
There is not enough added weight in |
oversize tires to affect transmission |
or differential or make any objection |
able difference in the power. The ad- |
vantage Of oversize tires, without the |
inconvenience OF expense of changing
wheel equipment, are features which |
mean more safety and pleasure to mo-
torists.
Before applying tires. remove rust
and all other foreign matter from |
rims. If tires have been ridden de- |
fiated at any times, mud may have |
accumulated on rims and, unless it is
removed. the tires cannot seat or fit |
properly. The danger of pinching inner |
tubes can be reduced, to a minimum, |
by dusting soapstone or powdered |
mica on the rims, so that the tire |
beads will slip easily into the correct
position.
Initiate inner tubes lust enough IN (