Arizona republican., 1922-05-21
TIRE FLAPS GET
ATTENT|ONFRO
GEORGE MILLER

h-Georee Miller. branch manager or
the United States Rubber company,
states that tires are shipped from
tlle factories equipped with flaps TO
fit those tires when mounted on
rims with which they are most gem
orally used. For example. 3Sx4 tires
are being shipped out with flaps TO
fit them on 32x315 rims, for the rea-
son that the 33x4 rim has oeen
adopted only recently and there are
far more 32x3ia rims in use than
33x4. AS soon as this condition re-
verses itself 33x4 tires will be sup
piled with flaps to fit S3X4 rims.
Proper Application
"The necessity for using a flap In
a straightside casing even when this
casing is mounted on a solid base rim
is apparent" he says. ''All straight
side tires. are built WITH rim clear
ance sufficient to assure easy mount
ing. The. result is that when the
tire is inflated on the. rim the beads
lift off the base an. appreciable dis
lance. Without a flap there is moth
i'm To prevent che tube from being
blyA n under the bead toes. and as the
tire reyolves and these beads move
up and down, the tube will eventually
be pinched. In the case of a trans
versely split rim the tube will be
pinched in the rim opening.
In applying the flap the end hav-
ing the round hole must in every in
stance be placed over the valve first
and the slotted end last, thus per-
hitting the flap to adjust itself cir
cumferentially. Failure to observe
this procedure is almost certain to
result in damage to the tube.
Care should be exercised to have
the flap centrally and smoothly
placed with respect to the beads of
the tire when mounting on the rim.
A little attention and care at this
point of assembly will repay the
labor many times. In addition to
seeing that the flap is centrally and
smoothly placed with relation to the
beads the inner tube should be
slightly inflated. After assembling,
pick up the tire and bounce it rather
firmly at three or four places, the
casing to be held in a vertical posi-
ton. This will allow the flap and
tube to settle into proper position and
prevent the flap being left too high in
the tire, where it is likely to remain
unless the bouncing is resorted to.
Continue this operation two or three
times each time initiating the tube df
necessary until the flap is in its
proper position in relation to the
beads.
Attention should also be paid to
the valve stem. No tire should be
mounted unless the valve stem is
seated in a free and straight posi-
ton. No amount of initiating will
straighten a. valve stem If the inner
tube has been assembled in a twisted
position. A complete new start
should be made to correct this condi-
ton. for if the tire is mounted with
badly twisted valve stem. the tube
is greatly strained and trouble is
sure to result. If one edge of the
flap becomes folded trouble is al
most sure to result. A flap which is
too wide. if applied off center. is
likely to fold over or to stand cut so
far from the walls of the casing as
to permit the tube TO be pinched.
Truck Flaps
"The United States truck tire flap
is without question the most scien-
tifically designed and constructed
flap on the market. This flap is
nodded in circular form, of very
heavy construction and is so shaped
ir> cross section as TO fit accurately
between the beads of United States
pneumatic cord truck tires when
mounted on the rim. It's surface is
covered with a lubricating compost