Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-09-28

To many, economy, so Tar as motor
trucks are concerned, means gasoline
saving, but saving of tire cost is equal
ly important. On a heavy truck, tire
cost and fuel cost are about equal. On
lighter vehicles tire cost Is slightly less
than fuel cost unless pneumatics are
used, where the tire cost will slightly
exceed fuel cost. Why, then, should
we hear so much about means Of saw
ing gasoline and so little about econo-
MIXING on tires. While the two items Of
cost are normally of equal magnitude,
abuse of tires can raise their cost out
of all proportion to their normal cost
and can swell this item far beyond the
utmost extravaganza in fuel.
1t is a fortunate circumstance that
gasoline waste inevitably limits the
ability of the vehicle to perform and
that unless the carburetor adjustment
is set for reasonable economy the truck
will hardly operate at all and conse-
quently cannot consume an excessive
amount Of gasoline. Tire abuse, I'M
fortunately and to the contrary. limits
the performance of the vehicle but lit
tie and in addition it gives rise to in
creased chassis maintenance cost and
common sight to encounter a truck
whose owner is extremely partiular
about his carburetor adjustment, who
employs the latest air. warming devices
and insists that the engine be shut off
at each stop, but with tires cut and
slivered, and wheels out Of line from
running on car tracks. A truck will
actually consume less gasoline without
a governor than with one, but removal
of the governor and consequent over
speeding of the chassis imposes a heavy
toll on tires.
COMMON TIRE ABUSES.
Commonest among tire abuses are
overlooking. overspeedipg. running in
car tracks, neglecting cuts and tears,
spinning. skidding and sliding the
wheels, and wheel misalignment. Over
loading overstresses the tires beyond
their elastic limit. utterly destroying
the life of the rubber and the durabil-
ity and cushioning ability of the tires.
Overspeeding even with light load has
the same effect, since the increased
speed causes the impact Of the tire on
road bumps to be magnified. Running
over a bump at twice normal speed
pOuiluS tHe Tire eight TIMES as nara ana
may overload 1t at one
spot 400 per cent.
Running in car tracks simply cuts
the tires by centering the pressure at
one point instead of evenly over the
tread. as is proper. The edges of the
rails, particularly of the guard flanges
OF street car tracks, become sharpened
by the friction of the car wheels, and
running tires over them is much like
running them over the edges of steel
knives.
When solid tires are cut or torn by
glass or sharp stones, the rubber sliv-
ers, much as the cuticle Of the finger
on hangnail. Anyone who has been
troubled with this annoying condition
knows that if allowed to go without at
tention, the hangnail will split further
until it becomes exceedingly painful
and results In an enduring disfigure-
ment of the finger. If it is promptly
cut close to the flesh 1t will sion heal
and disappear. Similarly, slivers on
solid tires should be promptly cut off
entirely as soon as they appear. Care
should be observed that a clean notch
Just below the end if the tear is made.
II the silver is left on, it will contribute