TYRE DEVELOPMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 280, 26 November 1932, Page 12

TYRE DEVELOPMENTS

The development of a new form of pneumatic tyro for private cars and commercial vehicles by the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. is an interesting move in that an attempt has been made to do away wifh .the ordinary road wheels as such/itml in their place to use pneumatic tyres mounted to all intents and purposes directly on to the hubs Actually small wheels of approximately 13in. diameter are used. The new tyre, a set of four of which are at present in daily use on a Ford for test purposes, is constructed on the lines of the balloon tyre. It has a cross section of Jin. with only 101 b. to 151 b. inflation pressure, with the result that a cushioning or shock-absorbing effect is obtained far above that of the or;nodox type.

A short run on the car over unmade roads proved conclusively that the tyres were well up to the claims made for them by the designer and manufacturer, it being possible to drive quite fast over pot-holes and kerbs without any real shock or discomfort being felt. On main roads the ear handled quite normally and the large tyres seemed to have no effect on the steering. There was no undue tendency to roll on corners.

At the moment the air-wheel is in the nature of an experiment, and will only be proceeded with as a commercial proposition should sufficient interest be displayed in it by car manufacturers and the motoring public generally.