Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-01-05
Dollar For Dollar In Tires.


know two men who last year bought
cars of the same make and size. One
mans tires gave him 5000 miles service
the other man wore out two sets of tires
in making the same number of miles. The
two men used the same make of tires, and
the great difference in service leads one
to seek out the cause.
By investigation and personal expert
ence have found that ten things play an
important part in tire service. and Tam
giving them herewith in the form of the
ten commandments of tire care;
!. Don't use your brakes unnecessarily.
The reason for this is so obvious that it is
hardly necessary to discuss it, yet you
frequently see driver apply the brakes
with such energy that the wheels slide a
yard or so before the momentum of the
car is overcome. Every time this is done
the service of the tire is lessened by sew
eral miles. Remember that the throttle
was made to help control the car. and that
the car can be controlled by the throttle
under almost all ordinary circumstances.
2. Keep your tires inflated to the proper
pressure. When a man buys a car he
should also purchase an air-pressure gauge
for his tires. for without such gauge it is
impossible to keep tires properly inflated
and the novice will run them far too slack.
he ~ eha "a
simple reason that the walls Of the tire
bend back and forth too much and. in the
case Of the ordinary chncher. will rimcut.
A properly inflated tire will bend very
little on good road. bending only when it
hits protruding obstacle. II is not the
purpose of the tire to act as a cushion all
the time. but only when il hits an irregu-
larity.
8. Keep your wheels in line. BY this
mean, do not have any of your wheels
toeing in or out. They ought to be exactly
in line. The steering rod connecting the
two front wheels frequently gets bent.
causing both wheels to toe in. When this
is the case the front tires are grinding
away all the time the car is in motion.
The rear wheels rarely get out Of adjust
ment.
4. Use care in driving. Choose carefully
where you drive. The driver who misses
seeing the broken bottle in the road pays
for it in dollars and cents. Be on the look
out for rough places, and avoid them when
possible or 60 over them slowly.
S. Repair all cuts promptly. II by chance
you do run over broken bottle or some
thing else that cuts your tires. by all means
have the cuts vulcanized Immediately
especially IL the cuts reach the fabric of
the tire. II the tire has been cut to the
canvas, moisture will enter and it will be
only a short time until the fabric will rot
and your tire will blow out. Prompt re-
pairing pays.
8. Keep tires free from grease. You
frequently see the rear wheels and tires Of
a car covered with grease that has worked
out round the brake drum and has been
spread with beautiful evenness and SYM
metry over the entire casing. This causes
the rubber Of the casing to become soft
and it soon gets "blubbery" and peels of
from the casing. When a wheel begins to
throw grease this way remove the wheel
at once and repack the axle housing with
felt rings. which can be bought for any
make Of car. Avoid storing car in a
garage where the floor is greasy.
7. Keep chalk inside the castings and
on the extra inner tubes When the car
is in motion there is more or less bending
Of the casing. which causes friction be-
tween the inner tube and the outside shoe.
Tires also become hot. when kept in con-
tinual motion for any length Of time, and
inner tubes stick to the castings. To over
come this, powdered chalk should be used
plentifully. This chalk is also grease re-
sistine and therefore preserves the tire.
All inner tubes not in use should be plen-
tifully powdered with chalk. as is the case
with the new tubes you buy.
8. Avoid abrupt starting. II the clutch
is engaged too abruptly the wheels Of the
car will spin. which is like placing them
to the grindstone. Climbing slippery hills
without using chains has the same effect.
8. Swing your car when not in use. This
takes several pounds pressure per square
inch from the tires and will add to their
life. especially il the car stands idle very
much. II the floor is greasy it will also
help to eliminate this objection.
10. Avoid turning corners rapidly. Here
again comes the eternal grind on the tires.
When you swing round curve or corner
at high rate Of speed your car wheels
will skid. and you again pay for your folly
in dollars and cents
There are a number Of good tires on the
market and each manufacturer is anxious to
give you the best possible service. but III tell
you frankly there is more in the man than
there is In make Of tire. Follow these
ten commandments and you will get good