SEVERE TYRE TEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 948, 15 April 1930, Page 7

SEVERE TYRE TEST

DROPPED FROM AN AIRPLANE A remarkable test of a tyre was recently made in America when a Goodrich de Luxe tyre, mounted on a wire wheel, was taken up in an airplane and dropped from a height of 2,000 ft. As far as is known no inflated tyre ‘ has ever been subject to such a test. Nobody knew whether the tyre would blow up when it landed, or whether it would collapse utterly. A guessingcontest was organised, and a valuable prize was given for the nearest correct guess of the pressure poundage at which the tyre struck the ground after its 2,000 ft. drop. A roped space was cleared at the airport, and the Goodrich De Luxe inflated at 401 b. pressure, was fastened along the fuselage of the airplane. At 2,000 ft. it was released and was seen front the ground as a tiny speck dropping into space. The speck dropped at furious peed, estimated at 240 miles an hour. It struck the ground in an upright position and bounded 30ft. into the air. Everybody rushed to the spot, and evidences of the terrific impact were found, but the tyre stood up, although the rim of the wheel was smashed flat for about an inch. The tyre was as good and solid as before the experiment, and the application of a gauge revealed the same 401 b. of air pressure.