TIRE ECONOMY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 45, 22 February 1930, Page 27

TIRE ECONOMY

CARE OF BALLOONS

KEEP PRESSURES COIJRECT

Proper care of tircs< has always bcei an important matter, but has becoini of even greater moment since th< balloon or low pressure tiro came iut( conunonjise. Although millions of car: still run. on high pressure tires, and probably will continue to do so foi many',years, yet, most new cars art equii>t>ed > with the low pressure type, The -high pressure tire, however, stands ill-treatment and neglect better than tho lpw pressure one, which, as a matter -of fact, takes neglect exceedingly ill. The/balloon tire, however, is the popular one, for several very good reasons... .;_,:~Errst,- it gives greater riding comfort. The lower pressure and greater flexibility absorb shocks which otherwise would be transmitted to tho passengers, engine, and transmission. On bad roads it is frequently advisable with high pressure tires to let out quite it large percentage of the air to avoid jars, not a good practice from the point of view of economy but often necessary if the car is to. "hold the road." The high pressure tire rides very badly onmpst moderntmetal roads. Once upon a:time they were the best, as they ride pot-holes remarkably well, but pot-holes have become rare. The modern metal road becomes what we know as corrugated—balloon tires are largelyjfrespQnsible —and the corrugated load high! pressure-tires will not ride at all. \ The. car literally dances clean off them; speed is.not merely dangerous, it is impossible, and the only course is to let-out air.. This kind of ill-treat-jnent, "however, the high pressure tire will stand, but the low pressure tire will not. The pressure ill' the case of balloon tires should be correct. Even a pound or • two under-inflation is immediately harmful. .- An inflation pressure is usually recommejlded -^vhen purchasing a car, and should:?be maintained at all times. Sometimes this pressure may bo increased; according to. the load "the car customarily carries; any dealer will adyise thij owne- about this. The;, manufacturers used to recommend -a higher pressure . than was always,necessary for high pressure tires because motorists were often neglectful and a.; drop in the pressure of thirty pounds would still allow enough air to prevent serious "damage to the casting. If balloon tiresare run to any considerable ' extent under-inflated they are quickly cut. by the rim and ruined. A balloon tire gauge calibrated in single pounds'will help in maintaining the 3 right amount of air in the tire. c Balldon tjl'e pressures should be i cheeked, say,.onee or twice a week, and X there ■ehoulcL^bo^set' days every week 1 for inspection.-? ;•.■ It is.worth the trouble, c Tire inspection : could be made a part C of theiegular routine visit to the filling f station; for-beniine and oil. It has 1: been estiinajted that nearly 99 per cent, of tire trouble is caused by under-in-flation. There are a few other points to look out for in keeping the recommended inflation pressures. Tire valve insides in all casings should be tight and in good condition, and the rim But on the base of the valve stem should be tight to prevent--4fre- -tube- from '■' creeping." Small cuts in the tires-should be attended to. They can cause unexpected •trouble and blowouts because water and mud and. sand work their way into these little cuts, rot the fabric, and bring about> ..deterioration of the tire. Let the repairman: give any such small cuts immediate attention, or do it'yourself. - wo---:. r ;,'" ■■ To the! motorist who asks how he can add to the'life ofhis -tires might be given the following admonitions: See that the^prppef inflation pressure is in, the tireS'iat all times. When applying, chains be sure that they are fastened loosely enough to work their way around the tire; Spares should be protected by, cover casings. Avoid the severe strains .which result from skidding, letting the clutch in too suddenly or jamming. thebrakes too hard. Keop the? rim. touched up with rim paint 0r..! shellac: . | Carry , a portable • vulcaniser, blowout patch,- chain tool, tire sleevej jack, valve cap, tire gauge, etc., to take care of emergencies. Proper _ wheel alignment is also important, and is worth- consideration. Misaligned wheels will wobble, run unevenly, and eause~rapid wear. A thirty-inch tire will drag 174-feet every'mile if the wheel is but,one inch out of alignment, and the greater the ground contact of :i tire the more intense will be the "drag.":- ,;¥ave the service man cheek up on the wheel alignment once or twice a year.