Evening star., 1924-07-27
No. 56-Why Tires Go Flat.

That's the third time this tire has
gone fat within a weeks time" Smith
complained, pointing to a rear tire
which was hopelessly f1attened out
upon the garage floor. Il think
somebody around here sticks tacks
in it,
"Nonsense!" replied. 'Tacks
wouldn't make an impression upon a
cord tire, and it's highly improbable
that you could have picked up three
nails in the same tire
1T isn't the first time this sort OF
thing has happened. I had the same
sort of trouble with a front tire last
month when I was on that trip up
State l had it repaired twice at diff
ferent garages, and when / got home
found it fiat again. l made up my
mind then and there that it was about
time l did this work myself and did
it right But I don't seem to have
any luck one way or the other. And,
do you see, that's practically a new
shoe?"
Lets take it off and investigate,
suggested. sometimes the casin
of shoe will crack SO that it will
pinch and puncture even a new tube.
I'm sure that there are no breaks
in this casing" Smith said. But I'd
like to know what to do in a case OF
that sort"
Using Blowout Patches.
explained that it's best to take the
shoe back to the tire dealer for ad-
justment, and that if this Is not pos
sible, to insert a blowout patch be,
added that when it is necessary to use
blowout patches it is always wise to
stop and start gingerly. since the
effect of sudden tire movement will
cause the patch to change its position,
eventually wrinkle and thus cause a
puncture or perhaps a blowout.
By this time the tire in question
was ready for inspection.
You see" Smith said. glancing at
the inside of the shoe, there isn't a
break in it."
yes" I agreed, "but perhaps there
is piece of glass or something sharp
in the casing that keeps puncturing
the tube"
Smith assured me that such could
not be the case since he had removed
first puncture. He did not take any
stock in the idea that there could be
any other foreign element in the
casing which could cause additional
trouble. But when I felt the entire
inside of the shoe with my hand and
head he was willing to concede that
there is more to be done after pune
ture than merely repairing the tube.
Elation Too Early.
Then that solves the mystery" ne
said. growing enthusiastic. "A thou
sand thanks for your patience"
you're counting your chickens be-
fore they're hatched," I reminded
him. eff this were the cause of your
mysterious punctures there would be a
hole in the tube at the point where ! To-
Gated the nail. CnQuestionably this
would have caused a puncture within a
very short time, but it didn't cause this
one"
"Then what didr' Smith demanded.
Let me see the tube moment, and
TIL tell you
I examined the tube carefully. but
said nothing.
what are these two lines which
run around on the inside of the tube?"
he asked. "They seem almost like the
beginning of cuts
"They are" l replied. TN time
this tube will split where you now see
the lines. You have evidently been
using the tire without inserting the
canvas protection strip. The sharp
ends of the straight side shoe are
cutting into the tube"
Don't blame that on me-" Smith
said. II am willing to bet any
amount of money that there was
never one of those canvas strips in
this tire"
which shows you." I replied, that
one of the important duties OF an