El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-04

II THOUGH the average motor car
1 owner does not realize it. we are
probably entering on a new era, as far
as the wheels OF his favorite vehicle
are concerned. Most owners would
probably assume that the present pre-
dominating type OF hickory wheels
have demonstrated their value and
/ have come TO stay. As far as the
satisfaction given goes. our present
wooden wheels would probably never
be superseded but there are other
factors that make It likely that be-
I fore many years have passed. we shall
I be using a radically different type.
In the very early days Of the motor
] car there was a tendency TO follow bi o.
/ cycle practice and use wheels of wire.
| These parts we're not properly de-
/ signed to perform the work demanded
/ Of them in automobile service and
. then the industry swung toward car
/ rage practice and adopted hickory as
I its standard wheel material
Inere IS little serious complaint
/ to be laid against wooden wheels,
I when they are made Of the proper
grade OF hickory. In rare cases
wooden wheels do disintegrate and
literally fall to pieces under some
excessive strain or heavy impact The
common falling Of wooden wheels is
70 develop an extremely annoying
squeak and this may be cured by driv-
ing in wedges where the spokes have
neglect to give any attention TO the
hub bolts Of their wooden wheels.
These bolts pass through the wheel
and retain the hub plate in position.
In the case Of the rear wheels the hub
bolts hold the brake drum also. If
these bolts are permitted to become
loose the condition VIII very prob
ably throw the wheel out of align
ment and cause difficulty in driving,
not to mention excessive tire Wea-
HieOry Is Scarce.
The real reason why the wooden
wheel is likely to be superseded is
simply the increasing difficulty Of
ond growth hickory. the particular
grade OF wood that gives the best re-
suits At the present rate, it will not
be many years before this grade Of
hickory viii be more expensive than
other wheel building materials, when
no real reason for retaining the
wooden wheels viii remain.
At the present time the closest n
val OF the hickory wheel in passenger
car design is the wire wheel. This
part is a radical advance over the
original wire wheel which was
d
bicycle practice. Scientific design has
produced a wheel with wire spOkes,
having all the strength and then
some, OF the best hickory. In addition
other characteristics OF superiority /
are claimed for the wire wheel by its
adherents, which at any rate entitle I
II to careful hearing in the final I
court Of motordom.
In the first place it is claimed that 4
by reason OF the many points at /
which the rim Of the wire wheel is /
supported. as against the ten OF l.
such points in the hickory wheel, that 4
the former Is the more tenacious in .
keeping its shape. The argument is
that the wooden wheel gradually as
sumed more or less OF a polygOn \
shape, which accentuates tire wear.
Further It is claimed that the metal I.
better radiates the heat inevitably L
generated by the tire in running, than I
does wood, which is a poor heat con-
ductor, acting in fact rather as an II
insulator. In the wire wheel there is
never any annoyance from squeaking
induced by lOosened spokes. However, n
It is necessary to keep wire wheels in
proper order, not to permit the
enamel to crack off at the nipples, as
rust is likely to form in such a case II
and trouble viii probably eusue-
There is little question that wire
wheels enhance the appearance Of a
sar. but they must be kept clean,
saked mud must be removed from be-
tween the spokes after a run in the
rain, or instead Of an Improvement
hey viii be an eye sore. It may be
noted that the special brushes that /
Ire now available for cleaning wire