San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
BALLOON TIRE
COST NOW NOT
PR0H|b|T|VE
All Motorists Can Now
"Ride on Air" Say
Manufacturers.
TWO TYPES PRACTICAL
Some Fit on Wheels De-
signed for Them, Others
Go on Any Wheels.

What Is practical program for
making the advantages of balloon cords
Mt once available to the great bulk OF
car owners, is seen in the announce
ment of the B. F. Goodrich Rubber
Company that 1t is manufacturing two
types Of balloon tires.
One type, the full extent OF balloon
Ing, Is designed for use on cars that
have been adapted to the type either
at the factory or by reducing the
wheels to 20 or 81 inches.
The other is for use on cars as they
stand to supplant standard cord tires.
There is no need to change the wheels,
or make any other readjustment of a
car.
The significance Of the two types
IA that any one who seeks the superior
comfort and other features of balloon
cords may obtain them without what,
in many cases, is a prohibitive cost.
This will undoubtedly be interest
ing news to the 100000 car own
ers who are now asking themselves
collectively and individually. where
does the balloon cord tire figure in
nv car? Is it a special equipment
for a few, or can / use it, and what
does it offer over standard cords"
Answers Vital Questions.
The two types of Goodrich balloon
cord tries are a practical answer to
these questions. ,
In other words, the practicability Of
the balloon tire is now chiefly a mat
ter of adaptation to the automobile,
or probably more proper, the adapta-
ton of the tire TO the motor car.
The one great drawback that con-
Germs most car owners is that, in many
cases where full balloon cords are
used, a complete change Of equipment
to 20 or 81 inch wheels is necessary,
and sometimes the mechanism of the
car must be changed.
The expense doing this is prohibitive
to many. 1t is only fair to say that
the result does not always obtain the
full benefit of balloon cords.
Car owners have now every right
and reason to look upon the balloon
cord as basic fact in the automobile
world. If fairly teens with possible
lities for the lay-motorist as well as
the automotive engineer.
The easy-riding smoothness and eff
ficiency, the comfort, safety and ulti-
mate economy it promises bid fair to
bring about great changes in motor
cars. They add materially to the
pleasure of motoring.
1t may be too early to accept such
over-enthusiastic terms as revolution
ary," and "the greatest improvement
in the history Of the automobile" but
it has been, and continues to be the
most novel, the most Investigating
feature in automobile shows.
Balloon tires are not as yet numer-
GUS enough to be a common sight, SO
that there is every reason to tell just
what balloon cord is.
Reduced to the simplest terms, II is
an oversize cord tire with fewer plies
in it than in standard cords. 1t is
a larger tire in diameter, and a more
flexible tire.
Matter Of Air Pressure.
But the important difference be-
tween balloon and standard cords is
the difference in initiation. The balloon
cord is ridden at much lower air pres
sure. In fact, its best descriptive name
Is low-air pressure tire.
Where the air pressure OF standard
cords is maintained at from 60 to 65
pounds, and sometimes higher, balloon
cords are inflated anywhere between
Is to 80 pounds, sometimes 40.
The advantages of balloon cords are
positive. They add q new comfort and
pleasure to motoring.
1t is plain TO see why this is so. The
car rides literally on more air. There
is crater cushion of air between the
car and the bumpy road. The super
flexibility Of the tire yields to a rough
roadway and obstacles.
The many advantages Of this are at
once apparent to the experienced
driver.
Fit Any Car.
As the use of the extreme develop
ment of the balloon r-e in many in
stances entails great expense, il is
obvious that the comfort and efficiency
of ballooned tires would be denied
many motorists were it not for the adj
ditional type now available.
As they can. be applied directly,
without change to car TO supplant
ordinary cords, any car owner may use
them.
They are quick, practical way for
the owner of a car to get the sensible
luxury of balloon tires, without paying
too great q premium for it.
The application of balloon tires is
largely problem Of clearance. and
this is what determines whether or
not car can have full balloon tires.