The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-10-04
SAFETY IN TIRE
CHAINS ON AUTO
drivers Regard These Devices as
Inc Last Word in Avoiding
Serious Accidents.
BEST WAY FOR USING Them
o"o on Each Wheel Affords Greatest
Security-Orape 1t Over Wheel
TOR Clean Job-It Should Be
Fastened Tightly.


whether on wet pavements or on
muddy country roads, tire chains are
the last word In the prevention of &C.
ciuehts. But. like everything else con-
iec'ed with the automobile, there is
u great deal of ignorance concerning
their use.
III pad going car should have a
chalh on each wheel, or If the motor
Isl uoes not care to buy that many,
one on each rear wheel Is imperative.
some people only use one, applied to
the left rear wheel. When the brakes
are applied the left wheel holds the
ground better than the right, causing
the car to slew to the left and so in
creasing the danger of an accident.
Inc left rear wheel Is chosen, as there
Is then no danger Of damaging the
chain by running against the curb.
The type Of chain used Is called "lad-
der chain," as it has two side lengths
fitted with cross links or "grips." At
the end are clamps to fasten the chains
Side chains will last two or three
years with proper care, but the cross
links will have to be renewed fire.
Quently during the season. The clamps
nt the ends are depended on to keep
the chain In place, and so must be re-
liable. II the clips that help clamp
the ends together do not fit tightly
they will allow the ends to separate,
and the chain Is lost. Examine them
carefully and bend them in so that it
requires quite an effort to close each
clip and greater one to open it. Then
1t Is reasonably safe.
Need Not Jack Up Wheel.
The novice jacks up his wheel to
put on u chain-not so the experienced
motorist. There are two ways of ap-
plying the chain. One is to drape It
over the wheel, the other is to lay ii
on the ground and run the car over
it, The latter method, apart from the
difficulty of steering in straight over
something you cannot see, has the
added disadvantage that the chain on
muddy road is in bad condition to
handle. So drape ii over the wheel,
and you will have a much cleaner job.
Apply it in such way that the points
of the cross links are away from the
tire so as to prevent them from cut
ting into it. Have the clamps toward
the back of the car.
This draws them forward as the
car wheel revolves with wiping mo-
ton that helps to keep them closed,
whereas the opposite method will re-
suit in their loosening sooner or later
and dropping Off. Having draped the
chain properly over the wheel, run
the car forward for rear wheel and
backward for front wheel. This
brings the ends out where they can be
gotten ut to the best advantage.
Avoid Use of Tool.
Never use tool to tighten up the
chains, as they may be fastened so
tightly they cannot creep, and so dis
tribute the wear. If they always stay
in one spot on the shoe they soon cut
in and ruin the tread. OF course, in
the case of woman, one whose
strength is not equal to the task, a
tool will be useful, but care must be
exercised not to get the chain too
fight. In line with this caution is a
similar one not to fasten the chain
to spoke.
The parts of the cross links that
come in contact with the ground are
case hardened, that is, they are made
of wrought iron with casing of hard
ened steel. This resists wear for
long time, but wears through even
tually, after which the link soon wears
ont and breaks. The end pieces are
not hardened, and so may be very cas-