Tires and Tire Problems.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 8, 1 June 1909, Page 278

Tires and Tire Problems.

Motorists in Europe and America are still busily experimenting with tires. The fact admitted that pneumatic tires must always be more or less of a nuisance, the problem arises — how to get any other tire with adequate resiliency? This is the problem on which the experts are working. They are trying solid tires bored and fluted in a hundred different ways. They are sparing themselves neither time nor trouble. And in the end they will doubtless succeed in banishing the puncture bogie. But it is not only on tires that the experts are relying in their search for the desired resiliency. We still hear of ideas

for pneumatic rims, spring wheels, and what not. However the problem is solved, it is likely to be solved soon. The era of sensible motoring is coming in. People will no longer be bothered with the everlasting irritation of puncture-healing, and lady motorists naturally abhor it. The pneumatic tire will eventually go.

It becomes plainer and plainer that the light ear is going to sweep the field in Europe. Recently a Parisian newspaper sent a circular round to all the principal motor-car agents asking what type of vehicle was in the greatest demand. Eighty per cent, of the replies indicated cars of

from 8 h.p. to 10 h.p., costing between £180 and £240. As a result, the makers are introducing no novelties in the way of heavy cars, but every effort is being made to perfect and simplify cars of light power and low cost. Precisely the same condition of things obtains in England. Heavy cars are everywhere being offered at greatly reduced prices. Motorists are getting tired of excessive petrol and upkeep bills. Considerably over a thousand motor omnibuses are now licensed in London, of which more than half are reported to be of foreign origin. In America, nearly nine-tenths of the public motor vehicles are

of home manufacture. That is the difference free trade makes. # # * The King, despite his attachment to horses and his regret that the new form of locomotion is so greatly damaging the English horse-breeding industry, is becoming a very enthusiastic motorist. A while ago, he even followed the West Norfolk hunt in his motor. Even Royalty is not insensible to the charm of travelling comfortably and arriving promptly at the time fixed. It is said that the advent of the motor has led to a great revival of punctuality among English aristocrats and magnates. People arrive in time at ceremonies now they no longer depend on the uncertain horse. # # # There is a greatly increasing demand for alcohol for industrial purposes. A company has been formed to obtain alcohol from the grass trees in 40,000 square miles of country in the Darling Downs district of Queensland. Also, a use has at length been found for the Prickly Pear pest. The nuisance is said to be wonderfully rich in alcohol. Recent trials in England and America have proved conclusively that the amount of mud thrown up by a motor-car is strictly regulated by the speed at which the car is travelling. At any reasonable speed, little mud is flung. At a high speed it is flung in cataracts. This is a matter that motorists (who really have no wish to annoy the public) will do well to remember. There are a few cars that often pass along the Ngahauranga Road that are a positive terror to pedestrians. Motorists have no

right to fling mud. It is even probable that a bespattered pedestrian may have a remedy at law. Moral: When you are passing a pedestrian on a muddy road, slow down. * * # An interesting trip in a comparatively light ear was recently undertaken m Great Britain. Mr. J. H. Paterson ran from Aberdeen to London on an 18-24 h.p. Peugeot car in 27 hours 58 minutes, without a single stop. Total distance, 5501/?miles, some rough roads, some steep hills. The petrol consumption averaged 16 J 8 ear miles per gallon. Three gallons of lubricatins: oil and half a pint of water were filled into the tank on the journey.