WORM TYRES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 338, 27 September 1932, Page 2

WORM TYRES

RUNNING ON BAD COYERS A DANGEROUS • ' PRACTIGE. FALSE ECONOMY. There have been several instances in Exlgland recently where motorists have come irito conflict with the traffic poliee owing to the tyres in nse being dieemed unsafe undev the regulations of the Board Traffie Act, which makes it a punishable oifence to drive mo^or vehicles with tyres in a wornout condition. The eontentious point appears to be. When does a worn tyre become defective and a soui'ce of danger- A motor cover that has the tread pat_ tern worn off and the traetion area of the tyre quite smooth may be quite safe under certain road conditions, but 011 wet roads snch tyres may be conuucive to skids, particularly if brakes are suddenly applied. Covers with smooth treads on the back wheels are at all times wasteful, inasmucli as there is considerable wheel-spin, owing to lack of road grip, with consequent waste of power and petrol. Covers that are so worn that several piles of cord casings are cut through are approaching the danger j mark, because they are likely to hlow | out when put under any undue stress. j Covers in such condition are a de- ' finite risk, particularly on hilly roads , or when cornering at speed. Under no circumtsances should tyres that 1 are obviously nearly worn through be j used on the front wheels of a motor ! vehicle that may be driven at even a • fast touring pace. If they must be 1 used, then it is better to heduce the risk by fitting such covers on the back wheels, and high speed should be avoided. Tyres are now so low priced that it is really false economy for any owner of a motor vehicle to ti-y to get the last few miles out of tyres that are not fit and safe for further use. A wrecked car, with possible harm to occupants, is a heavy penalty -to risk just for the sake of ob aining extra milesj which, after all, only represent a few pence, based on the modest outlay that nowadays will purchase even the highest grade tyTes.