Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1920-07-24
SolidsOf Pneumatics-which

The movement toward the use of pneumatics should not be condemned however, for undoubtedly it will be the means of increasing the scope of usefulness of motor transportation.
 The question is too new to be de- cided theoretically or from such meager records as are now available.
 The field of each type of tire may be separated into three classifications within which the operator may reas- onably place his installation, and se- lect his equipment accordingly. Thees may be called: CD the imperative field; (2) the economic field; and (3) the optional field.
 The factors that would bring a truck within the Imperative" field for solid tires are: reasonably hard roads surface, dependability of deliv- cry, regularity of delivery and heavy loads with frequent overloads.
 If devilery must positively reach
 it's destination without fail at time promised; if regular delivery is a more important factor than either speed or cost of delivery, or if it car ries over loads beyond the rated cap
 acity of the tires, solid tires should
 be used.
 Similarly, the factors that would
 bring a truck within the "inperative"
 field for pneumatics are so,ue conbln-
 ation of the following: Traction on
 any kind of road surface, or off the
 road, with cost subordinated; speed
 with cost subordinated or protection
 of merchandise from road shocks.
 The factors that would bring a
 truck within the Economic" field for
 solid tires are: Short hauls in cities
 where speed is relatively unimpor-
 tant; heavy loads with tendency to
 overloads; traffic congestion which
 reduces average speed; loading and
 unloading delays and need for low delivery cost.
 Similarly those that would bring
 the truck within the Economic" field for pneumatic tires are: Road condi- tions which will not prematurely de- stroy the tires; long hauls; high av- craze speed; relatively light loads
 with no overloads; tire service condi- tions good and low cost subordinated to quick service.
 In analyzing the Economic" field the operator must decide first wheth- CT he can avail himself of the poten- tial speed pneumatic tires would give him. This, of course, includes the , possible delays he may encounter due r to tire trouble as a result of bA road conditions and those he will find pro- vided the tire service conditions in his locality cannot be depended upon. Next he must be sure that the featur- es of his service provided by pneuma- tics will justify their extra cost. The distinction between Economic" and Optional" fields is difficult to
 make. In fact, the decision as to
 which is the better equipment may be , purely matter of personal opinion, < without strong factors on either side. V Hence, I shall not attempt to define !, them. One of the most interesting : significant developments which have : noticed in studying this subject, how ever, is the growing tendency among truck drivers to use pneumatic tires
 on front wheels where the need for
 protection from vibration is the great est ,and solids on the rear, to carry ', the burden of the load. This practice has much to commend it, and should
 steadily grow in favor.
 e In concluding, I should like to urge f that designing engineers study to de- ! velop such cushioning effects as may l. be possible through other means than tires, such as, cushion wheels, i'm proved springs, shock absorbers, etc p While realize that no mechanical de- F wise is so resilient as air, we have a e long way to go before we overc ome [. the difficulties of making it serve as - acceptably in puncture-proof and fool 0 proof rubber tires, although the in ,. dustry is making notable progress ir '- this direction.
 e A careful study of the point: e brought out in the foregoing should f be of material value to the truck own e CT in deciding which type of tire tt
 use. If he closely considered all the l. factors involved, as mentioned here e in, he will undoubtedly be able tx l. choose the tire best suited to hi.
 needs.