New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Taking the Jar
Out of the Motor
Cars Existence
Tires Are One of the Chief
Means to This End; How
They Are Made and How
They Should Be Cared For


; s;. --
When you lie down to sleep 1t night
probably you are mighty glad that
your head rests on downy, pillow IN
stead of a log or rock. Most people
are fond of soft cushions. Furniture
is: uph olstered, chairs are provided
Win pads which relieve the tedium Of
sitting on hard wood. and we wear
rubber heels to let ourselves down
easy on the sidewalk. Because we are
continually striving to take the jar out
of life it is perfectly natural that the
prDtice should have been carried to
the automobile.
There were cushion treads under
veRicles before the automobile was in
existence. 1t began with the old
vclocipede, which was improved by
having solid rubber tire. The early
bicycles also had solid rubber tires.
Witch the improvement of the bicycle
AMI its capitalization came the pneu-
matte tire, at first single tube and
then casing with an inner tube. The
latter never was very popular, how
ever. with the bicycle owner.
When the automobile came, the first
tires were of the single tube variety
and the driver carried quick repair
oSfft to use in case of a puncture. This
sortment of plugs, and pair of pillars
tosinsert the plug. This kind Of tire
was all right so long as cars were Of
lieht weight With heavier cars, run
atamuch higher speed. owners soon
touud that something better must be
devised for road cushion.
'Es Several Sorts Of Cushions
OF course. there are several other
cushions used to make the modern
automobile easier riding. There are
very carefully devised springs To re-
inf6rce the springs there are shock alb
sofbers of various kinds. and lastly,
there are luxuliously upholstered
cushions to sit upon. They all are
needed
Gradually the double tube" tire of
the present day was adopted, consist
ing Of an outer casing built to stand
tho hard wear, and an inner tube of
elastic rubber to provide imitation. Con-
stapt improvements have been made in
the matter of construction and no one
has, devised better system thus far.
The casing, or shoe, consists Of alter
nate layers of fabric and rubber. with
a .rubber composition thread These
layers vary according to the size OF
the tire and the weight to be sustained.
The construction OF the casing is fairly
simple. Upon a tubing ring, called q
niandrel OF the proper diameter, the
workman starts with layers of tough
fabric, thoroughly impregnated with
rubber. There are several layers
which are cemented together with rub
Der in solution They are stretched
and shaped, just as they are seen on
the inside of the casing.
Upon this fabric is placed a thin
aver of soft rubber to act as a cush-
ioh. While this is being put on. the
bead of the tire is also formed OF
;abrc and rubber
.Cver the cushion rubber. but not eX-
ending the full cross section of the
c&5ing, is placed q stretch of fabric
Known as the breaker strip, and upon
this, in, turn, is nodded the tread.
tion as can be. devised. Usually it is
lafgcly rubber and tale. with coloring
matter, and the outer surface may be
smooth or nodded into a variety of
designs intended to minimize skidding.
The tire thus built up, with mandrel
and outer mold, is placed within a
huge drum where a temperature of
approximately 800 degrees Fahrenheit
ls:smaintained by steam pressure, and
they remain in this heat chamber for
atdut an hour to cook. The steam has
no part IN tne COOKING OI cuIlls
,,rocess other than to maintain uni
!'6rm heat. Too little heat results in
imperfect curing and too much heat
ihn1.,a burning or disintegration. In
either case the tire wears out rapidly.
The Tires Job
The objects sought in manufacturing
the casing are, first, strength to sup
,ort the weight of the car, sufficient
rAbber for cushioning, and a quality
Of rubbe- which will withstand the
constant grind Of the pavemdhts. The
strength is needed most in the side
wallis of the casing, because the fiat
tened tire produces a wrinkling or
beading of these side walls.
sTo prevent this breakdown Of the
side walls, which means running the
tixse, manufacturers adopt standard
rlessure which they require drivers
benefit of tire mileage guaranty. This
rYessurc is usually so high that it
makes the tire as hard and unyielding
avssolid rubber. A. great many owners
who prefer little more comfort, even
at the expense y. tire mileage, will run
their tires at ten to twelve pounds less
pressure, knowing full we'll that the
Tire will not last as long.
1.-The inner tube is made in much
Sf15fh tUI IHduHcI, over an run IudlNlcl
which may be IA straight piece or a
curved pipe. On these mandrels nearly
lure rubber is placed in thin strips
building it up TO the proper thickness
This is then wound with strips of
cloth and cooked sor cured Then the
two ends arc vulcanized together and
the valve stern is inserted.
Tubes must De of the right size for
the casing. If too small they will
stretch too mucn, and if too large they
Wrinkle and wear or break. To prevent
their chatting against the casing, tale or
French chalk s used as sort of
lubricant. They are ordinarily long
lived if properly cared for. When
sanfsctured they are easily repaired by
ono of the quick vulcanizing outfits
ann if there is bad blowout a new
section may be readily vulcanized in
They should be kept in the castings as
iaf. as possible and if carried in the
nEehinc should be carefully folded
md wrapped and kept away from tools
apd grease.
Castings coming in contact with road.
ways of varying character are subject
tUhmuch wear, and yet they are, IL
properly cared for, wonderfully eff
cient. The wheels must run true or
tneY grind on the pavement some
where. The tread may become cut from
a1yariety of causes. Even small cuts
should be closed, after proper cleaning,
with one OF the cements to be procured
intany supply house. and large cuts
Shoulu be attended TO hv vu1ca nixer