Evening star., 1924-08-03
WHEEL TYPE HELD
FACTOR IN SAFETY
Subject Is Discussed for the
(, Information of Automo-
bile Purchasers.

Many purchasers of new cars are
asking the dealer about the kind of
wheels they ought to get. whether
wood, wire or steel disc. Aside from
considering the appearance OF any
type. which in the end is u matter of
personal choice. there are important
points to be remembered in the selec-
ton of wheels. The average buyer
at this time and perhaps later on will
take wooden wheels because they
come with the car and don't cost any
extra money, but in some cases he is
warranted in paying more and get
ting additional safety. There is no
particular hazard in using wooden
wheels If they are made out of Sec
ond-growth hickory, but where cheap
er wheels are used (if that fact can
be found ouD the owner will be buy
ing safety If he spends a little more
and gets wire wheels of good make
or disc wheels.
Used On Earliest Products.
Wooden wheels have of course been
used on the earliest types of vehicles
and give satisfactory service when
good wood is used and the manufac-
lure is right. but not few makers
sec In wheels a place to save a few
cents. Wheels don't cost much. some
makers paying less than $40 a set for
wooden wheels. but some of them are
willing to save a few cents even on
such vital part. You have heard of
ears the wheels of which squeak due
to loose spokes. There is actual
danger in this because a good side
thrust due to a skid or a quick turn
might cause the loose spokcs to tear
out. Wooden wheels properly made
give as great measure of safety as
any kind. but the buyer cannot tell
by looking at wooden wheels whether
they are good or bad. 1t Is quite
true that some of our heaviest trucks
use wooden wheels. but the wood is
OF the best and the wheels are well
made; looseness of spokes is at once
taken care of.
Lesson Learned From Experieuce.
Wire wheels and disc wheels and
metal. spoke wheels as used abroad
cast steel wheels used in trucks and
other metal wheels are not in every
case better than wooden ones. We
have had years of experience with
wooden wheels and know their worth
when they are made right 1t is
claimed for wire wheels that they are
lighter in weight. more resilient and
carier on tires than wooden wheels.
This is not always so even though
the racing car is pointed out as an
example. The primary reason for the
introduction of wire wheels for rae
ing cars came. when there was brought
abOut need for quick tire change
and not because they saved tires or
were lighter. OF course. the easy tire
change is an advantage even for the
ordinary driver. 1t may be easier to
bend or tear out some spokes of a
wire wheel then it is to break a spoke e
OF wooden one. Alignment Of smokes
Is absolutely essential to any wheel
whether wooden or wire. and in the
case of disc wheels the disc must be
in alignment
Metals Used In Europe.
In Europe wire wheels and disc
spoke wheels and other metal ones
are in greater use than in this coun-
try, not 50 much on account Of the
supposed better qualities of the metal
over good wooden ones, but because
on the other side they cannot get the
right kind of wood
The disc steel wheel, which came
into being few years ago on pas
senger cars. seems to be getting more
popular principally on account of its
appearance and-the fact that IL is
easy to clean. ...,'