A Reply to Mr. F. Edge.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 2, 1 December 1908, Page 49

A Reply to Mr. F. Edge.

(J. A. Maclinch.)

I feel it a duty to disagree publicly with Mr. Edge's recommendation to inflate pneumatic tyres to a low pressure. His argument may apply to himself as an expert, but it will certainly cause great trouble and expense to the ordinary motorist, because, unfortunately, he deals with the question of inflation from the point of view of an expert driver, and, having driven with him, I must say that one can hardly feel any motion or side play when he is at the wheel. This, however, was when he kept his tyres inflated, and I have not lecently had that pleasure, but I veiy much doubt if even he, as an expert, can pi event the side play with slack tyres, although he most unconsciously in his driving studies momentum and side strains every yard he goes The average motorist cannot be expected to do this, and he ought to consider the enormous unnecessary strain upon a slack tyre when turning a corner, caused by the swaying of the car, which creates a sawing action upon the edges of the cover by the rim. These excessive strains, added to the undue wear, caused by the extra hinging of the tyre when driven insufficiently inflated, are exceedingly severe on the tyre and costly to the user. When a car turns a corner at a fast speed with a slack tyre, the rolling action and side strain are much greater than when turning on hard tyres, because once a car starts to roll sideways on its tyres, it takes a great deal more to stop it than if checked in the first movement sideways, which checking does take' place with a fully inflated pneumatic tyre. For the same reason a one is much less liable to side slip with a properly inflated pneumatic tyre, which grips the bed of the road than with a soft, flabby tyre, which the car rolls on and drags sideways with it. For these reasons I entirely disagree with the advice given, and I think that it is a matter of great importance to all motorists that the following recognised scale should be strictly adhered to as most suitable and economical. Section, 66mm. — To carry 6001bs. per wheel. An pressure : Back tyre, 701b5. ; front tyre, 651bs. Section, 85 mm. — To carry 6601b5. per wheel. Air pressure : Back tyre, 801bs. ; front tyre, 701bs. Section, 90 mm. — To carry 9001bs. per wheel. Air pressure : Back tyre, 851b5. ; front tyre, 701bs. Section, 100 mm. — To carry lOOOlbs. per wheel. Air pressure : Back tyre, 851b5. ; front tyre, 751bs. Section, 105 mm. — To carry 10501bs. per wheel. Air pressure : Back tyre, 851b5. ; front tyre, 751bs. Section, 120 mm. — To carry l.SOOlbs. per wheel. Air pressuie: Back tyre, 951bs. ; front tyre, 901bs Section, 135 mm. — -To carry 1400lbs. per wheel. Air pressure : Back tyre, lOOlbs. ; front tyrej 951bs.

O\ei 180,000 acres in Ceylon are planted with rubber. The total acreage under tea is unchanged. Tea and rubber are interplanted over GO, OOO acres, and cocoa and rubber over 12,000 acres. The Japanese Government has raised the wages of aitisans, engineers and shipwrights employed in the Government dockyards to Is. 3d. per day.