New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
Preventive
Work on Tires
Is Worth Much
Repair of Small Cuts Saves
Bigger Bills in
the End
By WILLIAM II. STEWART, JR.

"a stitch in time saves nine IS just
as true Of tires as it Is of clothing. ii
a man wants TO reduce his tire bill ne
must watch. the small cuts and mend
them before they become larger. FIRST
get acquainted with your shoes. FRO
vide hot water, soap, a small box TO sit
on. lack up each wheel in turn, ana
clean off the casing thoroughly. Dig
screwdriver into each hole and clear II
of all gravel and sand. Long-noseu
plicrs may be used to carry piece
Of waste dipped in gasolene into the
hole to clean it.
A portable vulcanizer may now De
used to close the cut with permanent
patch of vulcanized rubber. These vui-
canizing outfits are low in cost ana arc
very serviceable. Full directions come
with each outfit. They must be used IN
the house. however, as most vulcanizers
use gasolene and an open fame is for
hidden in garages. The electric yul-
canizers are not open 10 THIS op9ectIoH;
IF a portable vulcanizer is not used
Won NAV readily fill all cuts with tlrc
putty. This patch is little softer thah
the vulcanized patch, but is mucn more
quickly applied. The cut must DC
cleaned with gasolene first and allowed
IN drv Tire cement is then spread
over the sides of the cut and also al
lowed to dry. A small piece OF the
putty is worked between the myers 70
soften il. after which it is forced INTO
the cut. filling it completely and rising
slightly above to allow for shrinkag1
and wear.
This prevents the cut from opening
more and picking up grit, which forces
its way in until it meets the breaker
strin Here it spreads sideways, zoos
eninq the tread and accumulatlng a.
tbo eide in a so-called sand pocket
This must be cleaned out and vulcan
ized-a lob for the professional vulcan
izer as the average owner has neither
the skill nor the apparatus 10 90 IL
Won will readily understand that re-,
nairs on the casing are limited 10 sma.I
cuts nc n cut or tear through the fabric
means a large repair which can be dohe
| only by a skilled workman ana VuIca"-
lied on special apparatus.
Repairs to the tube should next en-
gage the attention. To ma ieSh'
nump enough air into the tube to MAKE
+ round. If it is inflated too much II
viii burst. Put the tube under water
and look for bubbles. Mark the leak
with an indelible pencil, making ring
around il. When all leak are located
drv tube thoroughly and patch, IL a
niece of tube is blown out, making
hole half an inch or more in size, have
it vulcanized.
by using tire putty, as above described
a easolene patch or the portable vul-
canizcr. To use the putty rub place
with sandpaper and clean with gaso-
lene. smear rubber cement around the
leak. let dry, and press small lump,
of the putty down into the hole ana
shane the edges so that they are thin.
For a gasolene patch prepare the sur
face the same way, but instead OF putty
use a patch. ..
The cement is on it already, so II
only needs a softening with gasolene.
press down carefully. The portable
vrlcanizer will make better repair,
hut the best possible method is to have
the leak vulcanized by a professional.