TYRE TROUBLES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 4 July 1928, Page 8

TYRE TROUBLES

AND DEFECTIVE WHEELS). ECCENTRIC STEERING. . Many tyre troubles arise as the direct result of mechanical faults in the vehicle. Briefly, any condition which creates a tendency to move the wheels in any direction other than that of their rotation, comes within the scope of mis-alignment, and is detrimental to tyres. In a general way the fault first evidences itself in irregular or abnormally rapid tread weak, but many motorists of experience will be sensitive to some eccentricity in the steering. Prompt investigation may bring the fault to light before serious results ensue. Defects of this nature usually demand the attention of a competent engineer, but will generally'be found to be one or another of the following; Bent stub axles, bent steering tie-rod, looseness or play in steering connections, unequal set,in springs resulting from ■mal-adjustment, or from a. broken spring leaf, bent torque rod, wheel out of found or loose at bearings. Occasionally the front wheel tyres will be observed to have worn completely down on one,' side, the other being almost untouched.’ The explanation, of this lies in the splay of the wheels, often adopted to promote easy steering, and where this condition exists the tyres should be changed from side to side periodically to ensure uniform wear. A too fierce clutch, or one that is carelessly ..operated, may produce effects similar to those of unduly harsh brake action by causing the rear wheels to accelerate more rapidly than the tyres can convey the impulse to the vehicles. In this case, of course, the more effective the non-skid design of the treat, the less damage it sustains, but additional strains are imposed, upon the casing, and the tyre suffers accordingly.