Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-10
COOPER EXPLAINS HOW
EVEN TREAD DESIGN
MEANS MUCH THOUGHT

The Firestone company short time
ago began placing the alternate cross
and square design on its cord tires.
Lester Cooper who represents the
company in this city, learned the why's
and wherefores of the design when at
the big factory of the company at
Akron recently
II found that it takes a great deal
of time and thought to originate a
real non-skid tread for an automobile
tire" said Mr.. Cooper, yesterday,
The design of alternate crosses and
Suudres was adopted by our company
only after months of careful investi-
cation, comparison and tests.
"in designing a tread the first aim
is to produce maximum flowing of
rubber Success in this means cor
responding success in the amount of
traction obtained. This traction, with
due consideration to gasoline conser-
walton, should hold the car to the
road. Other things being equal, the
more angles and tho moro in-ines Of
contact there are, the greater is the
Chipping power Figures show the
cross and squares 1fslga has moro
angles th9n any other tfsA! design IN
the market,
Wear Is also an important consid-
alton. The higher the edge, the
stronger the bulwark raised against
the attacks of wear and stress from
without. Because of its three projee-
tons in every row, from side to side,
the cross and square design offers a
maximum of wearing surface.
Everywhere the corner of the
square fits into the crotch of the
cross A completely interlocking sur
face scheme is thus formed. AS the
two figures are set turn and turn about
longitudinally - around the circum-
ference of the tire, and also from side
to side across the tread there cannot
be such thing as an unsupported line
where the tire comes in contact with
the road.
Straight lines and points, as we'll
as concave and convex curves are pre-
scented. This is another characteristic
tEat reduces slipping and facilitates
the handling of pleasure car or truck.
1.-THE value of the cross and square
design is seen particularly along the
edges of the tire. The margin is ire
gular, because the point of the square
and the two 'cIaws' of the cross are
set alternately along the sides. This
is a great help IN breaking up strains
and absorbing them, obviating a fault
IN the majority of tread designs.
mot only along the edges, but also
all over, through and around the tire
vibrations A balanced series of al
ternate crosses and squares has been
attained, resulting in uniform action
of the tread rubber and a better dis
tribution of the strains to the carcass
of the tire. These things mean bet
ter adhesion, longer wear from tread,
and extra mileage from the carcass,
1.-THE interlocking of the two figures
all over the surface also reduces wear.
The corner of the square is set in such
citation to the cross as to prevent the
forming of pockets The height of
the edge also helps tire tread to resist
the effects OF wear. Along the sides
the cross and square (there are three
rows everywhere) stand up to the
last, Going their utmost to preserve
the tire as the crown is worn down.
"The gum used in the tread has
been increased in quantity in keeping
with the increased size of the tire. In
some of the sizes the amount used is
increased by as much as 20 per cent.
The gum is selected and treated for
those qualities which will assure the
maximum of wearing and cushioning
power"
The Firestone company reports an
enormous demand for pneumatics this
summer, both cord and fabric.