DRIVING TECHNIQUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 59, 11 March 1939, Page 28

DRIVING TECHNIQUE

EFFECT ON TYRES

A WIDE DIVERGENCE

Sudden braking and quick' acceleration help to shorten the life of any motor tyre. The indulgence by many motorists in this driving technique tends to the belief that.such motorists consider the effect on their tyres hardly worth bothering about. Yet; the quick get-away and hard-braking ! driver generally cuts down by half the milage

built into the tyres by the manufacturer.

A test carried out in England provides evidence that may serve to bring home to some "hard" drivers that they can savu many pounds a year by moderate use of the brake and accelerator pedal.

The story is that a Londoner who uses a fleet of private saloon cars in his business, decided to ascertain exactly what difference varied methods of driving made in the cost of tyre upkeep. New? cars of identical make and equipment were placed at the service of three of his employees. They were not told that a test was being carried out.

The first man reported that he needed a new set-of tyres after 14,000 miles had been covered. His covers were worn smooth, with fabric showing on the rear wheels. This driver specialised in fast get-aways at traffic lights and indulged in hard braking and fast cornering. • .

The second man asked for new tyres after covering 18,000 miles. His tyres were worn smooth on all four wheels. This-driver prided himself on the smooth handling of I-is car, although he travelled fast. His method was to glide away at the start, allowing the vehicle, to find its own momentum, and when he got into the "50's" and "60's" he held it, easing, off some distance from the corners and crossings. His times on runs were just as good as the get-there-quick driver who wore' his tyres out in 14,000 miles.

Months later the third man sent in his requisition for tyres. He reported having covered 28,000 miles before the treads of his covers had disappeared. He had seldom driven at more than 35 m.p.h., usually slower. Corners he took at 15 to 20 m.p.h., in fact he was one ,of the "steady, what's-the-hurry drivers" who used his car for safe transport. . . %Such figures may - awaken "get-my-dust" drivers to the fact that they are wasting.the life of their tyres by. their driving .technique, in addition to materially increasing the wear and tear on their car.