CUTTING DOWN THE TYRE BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 49

CUTTING DOWN THE TYRE BILL.

When, after covering, say, a hundred miles on his new car, the owner-driver casts an anxious eye over it, his only con- j cern. when he comes to the tyres, centres in the query: “Are they going down? as the dread of a puncture predominates to the exclusion of any other trouble which conceivably might occur later on. It is quite possible that the tyres are, in point, of fact, much too soft, but being, very likely, of a timid turn of mind, .lie hesitates to put the matter right, believing j in the old adage that it is far better m i such a case to leave well alone. Considering the proportion of the total cost of the car represented by the tyres, this is an erroneous policy, for, where the owner may go to particular troaole in order to take care of other component parts which would involve an expense ot. say 'from £5 to £lO, should they have become deranged, he will be ruthlessly destroying tyres which, for a complete renewal throughout, cost a great deal more. Tyres depend for their effect upon the introduction of maintenance, of air inu.ei pressure, and it should he obvious, therefore, that the correct pressure is of prime importance Only too often, however, it is found that, in order to overcome faults in tire suspension system, the tyres are run soft., And, it must be admitted in this respect, that the owner is between two stools. “VETTING” WORN COVERS. As the tread comes in for the major part of the hard work, its care should form a special feature of the owner-driver's attention. Although a small out in an outer cover in itself may appear to be insignificant, it must be remembered that if the rubber tread be completely pierced, then the ingress of moisture will rot the canvas within and do quite as much damage in another direction as would he caused by under-inflation. Tyre stoppings, which are made up in handy-size tins can be kept in a corner of tile tool locker, and it is really very little trouble to jack up the axle, revolve the wheel, and stop such cuts. A stopping cannot be expected to act as effectively as vulcanisation, but its main duty is to prevent the ingress of moisture or perhaps another small flint, which would carry on the destructive work already started. Apart from damp, which is detrimental to the inner part of the cover, the sun is harmful. Actually the effects of the sun can be ignored unless its rays be extremely hot, hut if this be the case the tyres should bo protected from the direct rays when the car is left standing. A deep gash, caused, perhaps, by a jagged-edged tramline or a piece cf broken glass., should never be neglected, and unquestionably, it pays in the long run to remove the outer cover and have the gash properly vulcanised. If there be a minor cut, say, in the side of the tread, which is hardly worthy of vulcanisation and yields to the ordinary treatment of tyre stopping, then, as a precaution, a gaiter should be introduced permanently between the tyre and inner tube. Tins gaiter strengthens the weak part and prevents the tendency of the inner mbe to force its way through when the tyre is inflated to the correct pressure.