Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-05

sign we're effected and the wire
wheel was made entirely practicable
for the motor vehicle. In Europe,
where no second growth hickory
was available and no other wood
efficient for wheel construction at
hand, wire wheels became standard
and still are. Here in this country,
with our supply of hickory, we early
abandoned the crude wire wheels Of
the early days and switched to wood.
Wire Wheel Superior.
As matter OF fact the modern
wire wheel has certain undoubted
points of superiority over its wood
rival. The wire wheel is somewhat
stronger in resisting shocks than
even the best wood wheel. The lat
ter, too, it is claimed, with continual
service becomes somewhat distorted,
a condition that increases tire wear.
The wire wheel, supported at the
rim by greater number of spokes,
is not liable to this distortion
trouble.
A further point OF advantage
claimed for the wire wheel is that
the metal more easily dissipates the
heat engendered by running. Wood
is undoubtedly a poor heat conduc-
tor and steel is an excellent one.
The wire wheel never gives annoy
ance by developing squeaks. But
the wire wheel demands a consider
able amount of care to keep it in
good condition. The enamel must
be watched and whenever it cracks
off, as it does occasionally, the spot
must be painted over or else mois-
ture will cause rusting. This is par
ticularly dangerous around the nip
Piles where the spokes join the rim.
Wire wheels must be kept clean if
they are to'continue to be an orna-
ment to the car. The mud must be
vigorously cleaned ont from between
the spokes after every run.
Watch for Broken Spokes.
Car owners using wire wheels
should give these parts of the equip
ment a thorough inspection once
every three weeks or oftener to see
that no spokes are loose or bent and
that no rust has formed around the
nipples. In one type of wire wheel
serrated drive is used and these
serrations must be kept perfectly
clean. If hicks should develop in
the serrations there will be difficulty
in mounting the wheel. Should rust
form on the driving surface it should
be removed immediately with kero-
sene.
The tendency toward covering the
wire wheel with steel disks is of
comparatively recent origin. The
disk wheel is considered distinct
addition to the appearance of the car
and it serves to keep the wheel be-
meath from dirt, rust, etc.
In France and England they are
using steel spoke wheels for passen-
ger car service, and they are giving
excellent results. They are stronger,
and their heat radiating qualities are
better. In appearance these wheels
are just the same as our familiar
artillery type wooden wheels. 1t is
not impossible that the steel spoke
wheel may be the type of the fu
ture.
There are certain details of care
which must be given alike to ali
types of wheels. Every wheel runs
on bearing, and this must be kept
packed with grease. Once a month
each wheel on the car should be
lacked up and turned to see that it
moves freely. At the same time the
spokes at top and bottom should
be grasped and the wheel be pushed
and pulled to see whether excessive
play has developed. Wear in the
bearings or hub may cause this
trouble. In the case of wooden
wheels, distortion of the wheel some
times makes it difficult to mount
the rim, or the rim may get out
of shape and the same trouble will
result. When this occurs, it is an
easy matter to force the rim into
place by placing the jack against the
hub and the troublesome place in
the rim. Occasionally the rims creep
little, so that the valve stems are
bent or even broken off. This may
be caused by loose Jugs or by dis
torted rim or by a rim with worn
shoulders. 1t is we'll to keep an eye
on the valve stems, for by their
angle one is warned that the rim is
rreaoipo