The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-15
GOODYEAR IDEAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR
TIRE IMPROVEMENT

It is becoming generally known that
different fieldt Of motor truck service
require different types Of tire equip
meht. Fer instance, soli1 tires are eco.
noHiesl equipment on trucks engaged in
slowsspeed. heAvy-duty service, while
pReuraaties give good returns In long.
distance transport, inter-urban freight.
ing, and general trucking where eush.
ionjng and traction are essential,
The first trucks were fitted With splid
tires, for az that time no other tires
were available. Fully 10 years ago,
says l.. e, Rockhill, assistant. sales
manager Of the Goodyear Tire and Rub.
Der company, Akron, o. I'VE became
convinced that there would be = great
field for the pneumatic truck tire. None
had then been made. Trucks we're
then in an experimental stage, compared
to today's development. And we were
generally laughed at and derided for
predicting a great future for the motor
truck and pneumatic truck tires.
Goodyear has been the pioneer in
developing, making and perfecting pneu.
matte tires for motor trucks, and has
now developed a tire that has long
| since passed the experimental stage,
The company is not asking truck max.
ers, agents or users TO do any expert.
mentins.
1t was ten years ago that we bought
q number Of trucks for use about our
factory These were all equipped with
solid tires, and were extremely pfimi-
tive in their construction. The factory
was put to work making a pneumatic
tire that would better protect the motor
n save repair bills.
with the tires that we're developed
the trucks soon were capable Of PERI
forming more work, because with pneu.
matte tires under them the drivers found
1t unnecessary to slow down almost I'd
stopping as they had previously done,
for bumps and distractions on the
street. Speeds were higher and more
miles covered In a day,
After A careful review Of the situa.
ton II was found that fabric tires would
never DO for motor trucks, Fortunate
ly, however, just at this time expert
mentst were started on cord tires foR
electric. passenger cars. The principle
Of cord construction was developed
steadily until he cord tire was made
practical for the more powerful gasoline
passenger cars. And finally, the devel.
opment Of the cord tire was merged
with the pneumatic truck tire and the
final cord pneumatic truck tire was
produced.
preferred for these f~reighters, Com.
petitors continued to criticise and de.
ride, but we kept on. had faith, made
better and better tires, and sold them.
When we had made It clear to the
world that there was an extensive mar
ket for pneumatic tires; when truck
manufacturers and users began TO ad-
NIT that we were right-then the other
fellow hsgan to creep into the market
that had been created.
This is the situation today. Good
year deserves credit, as the first ID
develop the cord principle new IN wide
use for passenger cars ana then fol
trucks. BY constant study, experiment
ana test, a tire was perfected fer bott
uses.
And through all this period Of do
veloprlent sufficient time was taken ID
attain perfection at every step, and Hot
till q reasonable degree % perfeetief
had been accomplished were these tires
offerd TO the motor truck using public
and not only Is the company years
ahead with this type OF tire as II stand!
today, but It Is stu busIly engaged II
extensive research work IN an attempt
TO make them even better"