THE MOTOR WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10293, 30 May 1919, Page 8

THE MOTOR WORLD

TYRB MILEAGE. | Before a man is permitted to drive a car, he must accept a certain amount of tuition, and prove his ability to handle his machine at least with safety to others. If he is a wise man he will alto get to know as much as possible about the mechanical equipment of his <ar. The fact that he pays a substantial sum to become its owner is, as a rule, a sufficient inducement for the average-can to talce good care of and to use'it as the experience of expert drivers tells him he should. But what of the tyres with which Lis car is equipped? For some unknown reason, the motorist is inclined to underrate the importance of his tyres, and the part they play in. the pleasure and hrrvice his car provides. "If motorists did the right thing," says an export writer, ''they would .make as'careful a study cf their tyres as of'their engines, since on the one almost as. much as the other, depends the- cost of running their oars." Ever since the pneumatic, tyre was puton the market people have been striving to Improve it, either by ; building a better lyre; or by trying to find a substitute,for air, dr.by Jurying te find something that would at least do away with punctures. The solution of the motorist's tyre j-vo blem lies: along two lines—first, tyre care; second, the application of such metlv>ds as- are.followed by the'skilled repainn.m, or .those-methods, .which can readily be followed by the car owner. Watch'your tyre inflation. That point cannot be emphasised too strongly. Remember that careless inflation is totally or', partially responsible- for the condition of about 3U per cent, of the tyres that five returned' to all tyre. manufacturers for adjustment. • Also, remetnber that 2j miles of driving on a' tyre that shows 1™ air pressure.'is of ten more injurious than 1500 miles of driving on the same tyre when it is fully inflated. The new tyro can'be started well on the road to run. by a few miles of running when the pies, sure is low. Stone, bruises are the bast understood injuries that can happen to a tyre. They are always followed sooner or later by blow-outs." When Ihe.inevitable blow-out occurs,, the car owner almost invariably, blames the manufacturer for making a defective tyre. The nrincipal reason is 4 that the blow-out generally occurs miles away from the place where tho' injury occurred, and may be days and even.weeks afterwards. It may even occur when'the car is standing; still. The inside plies of "fabric may break, even if there is not the slightest markon the tread. Tyres are constantly encountering . sharp obstacles. Evidences are the tread cuts which appear on tyres after-they have been in service for some time. If these cuts'are deep enough to reach the fabric, dirt and water are burc to work in between the tread and fabric, and cause trouble. Should they be tenlarge to repair -with tyre putty, have them vulcanised by ' some practical repairman. If-the front wheels get out of true, adjustment is a very simple mattei. Rear ,Wheels present greater difficulties, but fortunatelv they are less liable to get cut of true. Whenever this condition exists, tyres -wear down rapidly. If wheels ait badly out of line, new tyres wear dowh to the fabric' in 2yo miles of running. Wheels should be' regularly measured to | bb of normal tyro~<wear. Watch the average car stop" suddenly,' and ono rear -wheel often, locks while the other keeps on turning. That-means that tl ft brakes arc operating mostly on one wheel. The tyre on that wheel is largely respjneible for stopping the. car, and it, shown excessive tread -wear. .If you have rill Weather tread- tyres on rear wheels, da not blame one tyro: for excessive trend wear without a little examination. Ihe chances are the brakes ■ are not working evenly. The safest way is to prevent trouble by having your' brakes overhauled every now and then: . . Tubes do not -wear out—they burn out. It tube*, could be , kept absolutely cool they, would last longer., but that cou.Htion is impossible. '-, A'ri.. inferior tube, even if.it costs less, is poor economy. It riot only ■ gives. short service, but often results in a ruined casing. It can readily be seen; what a poor investment an inferior tube .'is.' ■'..■' ■ ■ .' -'' Very oftjenJ after a tyre has been ii» use for some time,'the.fabric has become weakened in some spots due to road conditions and 'other .causes. ; Enough of tbn tread remains to stand.considerable wear, and the car owner-does not wish to throw the tyre away. A reliner, or an insid* tyre will strengthen up the fabric, and often give the car owner 1000 or more- additional miles that he could not hope to get without .the use of the protector.' .These' protectors also lessen the danger of punctures, and that is ft distinct advantage,.especially in wlntei. Every .car owner,, has . use for several emergency: articles,, because misfortunes have a way of refusing to come singly. With four new tyres,on the wheels and a new spare, most motorists feel com. pa'ratively secure. , But even five new tyres' are insufficient protection against a succession of punctures. ' A coupio of fabric patches for casing injuries, ■ everai tube patches, a tyre tester, a little f-ic-tion tane, a little cement, a little tyre putty, and a tube of talc, in addition to o spare tyre, are all that a motorist r<eds to give him full protection .-.gainst accidents to his tyres.