Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-22
ALTHOUGH you, as a motorist, are
~ ready to admit that your tire bill

ALTHOUGH you, as motOrlst, are
~ ready to admit that your tire bill
reaches an annual total beside which
the cost of your gasolene, even at it's
present high prices, is relatively insig-
nificant-are you really ready to affirm
that the high cost of firing is a matter
over which you have no control, and in
which you are at the mercy of outside
influences?
Just as matter of curiosity, take a
casual glance at the next dozen cars drawn
up at the curb in your street. The chances
are that six of them are fitted with tires
which are insufficiently inflated, that at
least three of the number have rear tires
streaked with lubricating oil or grease,
and that the front tires of four bear the
outward and visible signs (once seen and
realized-never forgotten) which indicate
that the wheels are out of alignment.
: When you have done this, think the
matter over in relation to the fact that
ninety per cent of the troubles start
inside the tire, and that you know little
or nothing of their existence until-bang!
There is little art in purchasing tires.
-. Pay no attention to the color of the tread:
it has just as much effect on the wearing
qualities as has color on the taste of
candy. Don't. as a rule, buy seconds
or so-called cheap lines: there is no real
saving effected. And remember that an
oversize tire will, under normal circum-
stances, pay for its extra cost several
times over.
differentiation is the direct or indirect
cause of the majority of the ills to which
tires are liable, and it is good rule to keep
your tires pumped to a pressure of twenty
pounds per inch of cross-sectiOn; that is,
eighty pounds for four-inch tire Do
not reduce the degree of initiation because
the weather is warm. The heat of the
sun, plus that generated by traction, does
not increase the pressure to any appre-
ciable extent. If you use an engine-driven
or other high-speed pump, test the pres
sure in the tires an hour or so after you
> have inflated the tires. Rapidly compressed
air becomes heated, and as it cools the
pressure drops in the tires.
Don't be afraid to use the pump; the
margin of safety in a good tire is such that
YOU can not over-infate it, If you try to
do so, the first result will be that your
friends will refuse to go riding Tor bump
ing) with you. You can buy reliable
tire gauge for dollar.
Should your front tires look as if giant
file had been used on their treads. and If
the lining fabric is showing as wavy
ridge, you may depend upon it that the
wheels are out of line, and that the sooner
they are inspected at the service station
or garage the better for your bank-roll. If
the rear tires present this appearance, look
to your brake adjustmentsiand equalizers.
Probably one brake is acting before the
other. g" }
Drive carefully across car tracks, see
that your tire chains are neither too tight
nor too loose, remember that oil or grease
should not be allowed to touch tire Tor
any RUBBER. and that bentaxle means
badly worn tire. Hesitate before fitting
a reiner or casing reinforcement to a new
tire, on account of the extra friction de-
ve!oped, but be prompt to fit one to a
partially worn tire. :.
The inner tube is faithful servant If