Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-09
BY $. v. NORTON.

The question of whether heavy
motor trucks should be equipped with
solid or pneumatic tires Is ono OF the
most important problems confronting
the motor world today.
Needless to say. each type has lis
| advantages and limitations. If that
were not true one type would be used
exclusively and the other would be
, discarded, 1t is apparent. therefore.
| that n careful study or all factors in
volvcd should be made before decid-
ing which tire TO use For the pur-
poses of this discussion the factors
To be considered may be divided Into
three groups, as follows: first. the
engineering features: second. the
nrn . toperatins features: and
| the field.
The Information l shall give you Is
not theoretical. nor based on the
whose delivery problems would in
TariaDly point to the same conclu-
sion. but rather composite on the
opinions OF hundreds OF truck opera
! tors and their mechanics engaged in
! handling all kinds or merchandise.
Changes I'm Problems.
| In the first place. II should DO con-
sidercd that conclusions which APP
pear sound today may have to be
/ modified In time by changes that are
gradually but constantly taking
I place. foT instance. truck ucStSn IL
being altered and improved; tires are
being built better and stronger: roads
! are being improved. and experience
| Is pointing the way to tho moro In
| systems and devices heretofore UNI
! known
/ Another point TO be considered Is
under widely d.ftsrinE and complex
circumstances. Conclusions based
from experiences In one case might
| not be borne out in other cases.
/ Viewing the problem from this
angle. have sought information not
/ only from truck manufacturers and
! their engineers. but from truck sales
country as well az from tire dealers
and those upon whose local scF vice
SUCCESSFUL truck operation depends.
The functions of tire equipment ave:
| Ito secure traction: TO cushion
the mechanism and the load: 3-to
| protect the road. To perform these
functions. three types Of tires are
available: solid. cushion. and pncu-
matte. Since there are relatively few
cushion tires In service at present we
can conhne our discussion TO the solid
ana pneumatic types.
Accented Field OF Tires.
| II Is safe to say that a. present the
accepted field for each type Is as 70 .
lows: pncumatics on trucks up to
solids on trucks OF three and 4 half
! tons or over. Between these two ca
pacities the field is debatablc. and the
| choice cannot be made intelligently
without careful analysis o. the
/ important factors involved In taxi
/ ing uD the engineering aspects shall
deal briefly and frankly as a layman
and not as a truck engineer.
The first point toibc considered In
! this respect is the difficulty cncoun-
tered In using TYP" OF tire on \
truck different from tina; for which
II was Intended: To place pneumatic
tires on a truck equipped for solids
! requires. in the first piace, that the
| wheels o: the vehicle be cut down.
Moreover. proper allowance must be
! provided Tor both body and fcndr r
|, clearance AK the larger sectional dia-
meter %: tho pneumatic tires vii! af-
4 feet the steering clearance and the
! truck viii be unable TO turn In SO
short a radius as I; did on the solids.
| This is cspccially important Ia neg.
! tiatinE turns in narrow streets and
alleys as we'll as in garages with
limited floor space.
As the larger diameter Of pneumatic