1928 Cadillac - GM Heritage Center

64 CADILLAC OPERATOR'S MANUAL
intervals around the casing. Actual tests have shown that running a balloon
tire at too low a pressure will reduce the life of the tire about one-half.
In addition to what has been mentioned, under-inflation makes a tire
more susceptible to any other type of injury. For example, a fabric break
can occur more easily in an under-inflated tire. A sharp jolt on a rough road
could easily drive the tire against the rim and injure the casing while in a
properly inflated tire the air pressure would absorb the same shock without
damage.
Results of Improperly Aligned Wheels
Rapid and uneven tread wear will result from running a car with the front
wheels out of alignment, This may affect either one or both of the front
tires. Incorrect adjustment of the front axle parallel rod or a bent steering
arm is responsible for this condition. If this is not remedied it will result
in the treads of the front tires wearing away very rapidly.
Value of Careful Driving
A little care in driving the car will pay big returns in longer life of the
tires.
Avoid bad holes in pavement and stones or other obstructions in the road.
Do not turn corners or run over sharp obstructions, like car tracks, at a high
rate of speed. In turning in a narrow street, avoid striking the curb. Bumping
into stones, curbs or other obstructions will result in injury to the
carcass of the tire, even though no injury is apparent on the outside.
Avoid scraping the tires against the curb or running in ruts or in street
car tracks. This treatment scrapes the rubber from the side walls, leaving
the layers of cord exposed to dirt and moisture, which soon start to rot the
cords.
When stopping the car, apply the brakes so as to come to a stop gradually.
Do not apply the brakes so suddenly that the wheel slides on the pavement.
Sliding the wheels will cause the tread to wear awav in spots. A tire will
give way very rapidly under this severe treatment.
Repairs to Tires
Tires should be inspected regularly and any small pieces of glass or metal
that may adhere to them should be removed. If any cuts are found which
extend to the cords they should be treated at once. Tire companies furnish
a plastic compound for filling cuts which prevents dirt and moisture getting
in. It is unnecessarv to remove a tire to treat small cuts.
LUBRICATION AND CARE 65
Large bruises, cuts or other injuries can usually be repaired at a reasonable
cost. Tires in need of these repairs should be taken to a reliable shop for
vulcanizing. The use of temporary patches or boots will soon cause the
complete failure of the tire with the loss of considerable mileage.
In case of puncture, the car should be stopped at once and the tube repaired
or replaced, or the tire replaced by the extra one. The tire should also be
examined carefully and the cause of the puncture ascertained and the nail,
glass or whatever it may be, should be extracted. Before replacing the tire
on the rim, examine the inside of the casing, to see that the cause of the
puncture is not still protruding.
If a tire goes flat without any indication of injury to the tire, see that the
valve is not leaking. A little moisture on the tip will show bubbles if the
air is escaping.
Additional Suggestions
The tires are constructed for the purpose of carrying up to certain maximum
loads and no more. It should be realized that overloading a car beyond the
intended carrying capacity is sure to materially shorten the life of the tires.
The garage floor should be kept free from oil or gasoline. The tires on a
car left standing on a grease-covered floor deteriorate quickly, the natural
enemies of rubber being oil and gasoline. These destroy the nature of the
rubber, rendering it soft, so that it cuts and wears away quickly.
Tires are sometimes badly damaged through the use of tire chains which
are incorrectly adjusted or which are fastened to the spokes of the wheel
holding the chains tightly in place. The least injury results when chains
are applied loosely, leaving play enough to permit them to work around.
The wear on the tire is thus distributed evenly. Probably the greatest amount
of injury comes from using chains unnecessarily on paved streets.
If the car is not used during the winter, it is better to remove the tires
from the rims, keeping casings and tubes in a fairly warm atmosphere away
from the light. It will be better to slightly inflate the tubes as that
keeps them very nearly in the position in which they will be used later on.
If the tires are not removed and the car is stored in a light place, it will be
well to cover the tires to protect them from the strong light, which has a
deteriorating effect on rubber.