A TALK ON THE UPKEEP OF TYRES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 April 1928, Page 15

A TALK ON THE UPKEEP OF TYRES

SOME USEFUL HTNTiS.

A very interesting and instructive talk on the upkeep of tyres used oil commercial vehicles, was recently given in England to the drivers-'and mechanics of the 'Commercial Motor Users Association by Mr A. G. Legge, the educational manager of the Dunlop Rubber Co.

On the question of tyre sizes, Mr. Legge said: “Be sure the tyre you use is big enough for the job, that is, find out what load it is carrying,- either by actually weighing the vehicle when completely loaded, or by it. In these days, the manufacturer of the vehicle usually provides a tyre which i s big enough for the load he intends the machine to carry, but the bigger proportion of machines are o'ften carrying loads very much in excess of what was intended by the maker. “The air in a pneumatic tyre carries the load and does tlie work. Be sure you have enough air for the job. ‘See that the a:r pressure is equal on both sides of the vehicle, that is, do not, have 4olbs in the near front wheel and 851'bs. in the off front wheel. See that in twin tyres the pressures are equal. The tendency is to neglect the inner twin tyre for various reasons. Test your tyre pressures by using a good gauge, actually applied to the valve. Do not depend on a pump gauge. It nearly always registers between ten and twenty pounds higher than the actual pressure. Do not make any allowance for weather conditions in your pressure. If the tyre is too 'hot, put more air into it, not less. “Cuts should be cleaned and stopped. Examine tyres regularly for cuts; If they arc not quickly stopped, water and dirt will get into the.tyre, rotting the casing and bringing about its early failure.

‘'‘Use the tyres as recommended by tli e manufacturers. We provide, for instance, thin tubes because, all things considered, they are best. We do not recommend puncture sealing compounds, because they are not an advantage. “Finally, treat, your tyres with care. Deal with them as you deal with any other part of the vehicle, such as the engine. Examine them periodically. Keep them clean. Take them off the riins, say, one tyre per week in order round the vehicle, and clean the rims. Remove trapped stones from twin solid tyres and flints from pneumatic tyre treads and stop cuts.” Mr Legge pointed out that tyres today were a good deal cheaper than frnev were before the war, and moreover, they give, as a rule, three or four times the mileage under much moretrying conditions.