The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-25
T|EUP Of FREIGHT
HAS GIVEN BOOST
TO MOTOR TRUCKS
U. S. Rubber Official Declares
Need of Speed Also Brought
Heavy PneumatiCS Into De-
mand.

-
Three extraordinary impulses have
been effective in the last few years in
greatly increasing the use OF motor
trucks and In bringing about improve
ments in their design and construction.
The first and the most speedily etfec-
tive was the impulse given by the war.
II came when the government took
over the railroads. which soon became
congested with military traffic. To
make matters worse from the CONNER
cial standpoint. there was a heavy de-
mand, amounting almost to comman-
deering for government purposes, of the
available supply OF motor trucks.
As consequence of these conditions.
commercial traffic was all but at a
standstill. forcing organized industry
10 an Increased use OF the motor truck
and to demand OF the truck the great
est possible speed.
A second impulse has been the heavy
increase in rail freight rates Truck
hauling can at last compete dollar for
dollar with rail hauling up 10 limits
well beyond 100 miles, especially where
the journey by truck eliminates the
cost OF carting at both ends OF the
rail journey, and also makes Grating ana
boxing unnecessary.
The third impulse found Its manifes-
tation in a railroad congestion that Sc
ness, Here, as during the war. the
motor truck saved the day.
In all these emergency uses OF the
motor truck one feature OF the truck i
usefulness on which stress came TO be
laid was speed The need for speed
was great and any type Of equipment
which made for greater speed was re-
garded with especial favor.
II Is worthy OF note that owners OF
fleets, faced with this requirement.
found their greatest asset In the pneu-
matte truck tire which had reached its
present state OF dependabllity just be-
fore America entered the war.
1t was not remarkable under the cir
cumstances that everyone connected
with the truck industry, including some
manufacturers OF tires, began to re-
gard the pneumatic tire as destined to
Completely supersede solid tires. But
with the end OF the war and the subse-
quent gradual lowering of the tension
under which everything had been NOV
ing. the need for high speed became less
vital and with the change came other
views with regard TO the essentials OF
motor truck construction.
A most significant utterance on the
subject Of tire equipment was the fol-
lowing, made recently by President j.
Newton Gum, OF the United States
Tire company.
stors promlseuous cnange lovers from
solid to pneumatic truck tires leads me
TO offer a word of caution.
in my opinion. the time has come
when intelligent advice should be given
TO truck owners OF the country on, this
subject, There is reason to doubt
whether truck owners in changing
over Unfortunately from solids to
pneumatics understand that such
change -over is not always satistac-
tory and may even be harmful to their
trucks.
"The truth OF the matter is that
there are certain circumstances under
which II is wise for truck to usa
pneumatic tires and other conditions
under which II is equally wise to con-
tinue to use solids,
1.-THE chief purpose in making this
statement at this time is to prevent
satisfaction to truck owners who,
attracted by the success Of the big
pneumatics, may be contemplating dis
continuing the use OF solid tires and us
ing pneumatic In their stead without
inqulring into the suitability OF the
pneumatics for their trucks or their par
tlcular needs. II would be well for
an owner 10 consult with tire expert
before making such change. -
Pneumatic tires have certain very
definite advantages over solids II is
just as desirable to have all trucks OPP
crate on pneumatic tires as II is TO
have all passenger cars operate on
The invention OF the
tire was one OF the greatest
,teps forward in the development of
he passenger car, and the pneumatic
lire for trucks Is AZ great a step for
ward In the evolution OF motor trucks |
But until trucks are designed espe-
tally for them. truck owners should |
hesitate about substituting pneumatics |
'or solids unless they are sure that |
are better suited to their |
rucks and their needs than solids"
Owners of heavy duty trucks, the |
weight Of whose loads make pneumatic
tires unfeasible, but who have been |
with results obtained from |
solid tires. may take comfort from the |
'act that tire engineers are devoting at
lention to the solid tire problem with |
an earnestness that is bringing tangi- |
Bile results.
Two chief obstacles have made the |
use OF solids in large sizes unsatisfac-
tory, both the result OF the large mass
" rubber necessary to their construC
lion. In travel on solid tires the trac-
ton wave formed In the rubber just
ahead Of the point OF contact with the
road surface has caused such a knead-
ing of the compound as TO result in the
deterioration OF the rubber The sec
md obstacle has been the difficulty II
securing perfect vulcaniEatiou through
nut the entire mass Of rubber As a
OF this difficulty, il has
not been uncommon 10 have tires fail
because the heart OF the tire was i'm
properly cured.
Various styles OF tires have been de-
signed to overcome these difficulties
These styles have utilized groove in
some instances and n slot in others, but
he results obtained show that neither
he slot nor the groove has brought
about an even INFLAMMATION or clint
mated internal friction,
The laboratories OF the United States
Tire company. after long study 81 these
problems. has evolved the Mono Twin.
4 big solid which completely eliminates
hese difficulties II has an especially
massive rubber body into which deep
depressions are sunk at regular inter
sals in the center Of the tire. These
Expressions provide for the dissipation
" the traction wave, insure vulcanza-
ion Of every part Of the rubber, and a
he same time give tractve quality Of
unusual degree. Big trucks equipped
with them can travel at sufficiently
nigh rates Of speed without danger 81
'uining the tires.