European Motoring

A Discussion of the Balloon Tire in England, with a Comment on French Events

JOHN PRIOLEAU

WHILE the two subjects of fourwheel braking and balloon tires, their respective advantages and drawbacks, are the principal topics of discussion by every one over here who owns, has owned or proposes to own, an automobile of any kind, for the moment the fat tire is having it all its own way. Fourwheel braking received, as a cause of contention, a tremendous fillip during the London Motor Show, but has since been eclipsed by the balloon tire in immediate interest. The reason for this is, I think, that, while numbers of well-known makes are boldly fitting this system as standard and you can go out on the street and buy half a dozen different cars so fitted and thus form your own conclusions, it is still a rare event to see a car with the fat tires. The less experience, the more argument. Here, in England, the future of the fat tire is by no means certain, in spite of the rosy aspect given it by one or two of its protagonists. Its utility will, for a while at least, lie with the popular light-weight, high-efficiency engined small car, whose springs are by no means always the best designed portion of the chassis. Tests were made, at considerable length, in France a short while back, from which, reading between the lines of the reports, it was easy to deduce that, while there was no question about the immensely increased comfort afforded by these tires over pot-holed surfaces and the broken roads which abound near large cities, there was a good deal to be put on the other side of the account.

FROM talks I have had with one or two old-time motorists (who know about most things, but do not hurl themselves into ecstatic print after a single trial), I judge that, on light vehicles at any rate, the steering is considerably deadened, the effect being, not unnaturally, similar to that of driving with a partly flat tire; the speed of the car is noticeably affected; and the consumption of fuel markedly increased. For town use these things do not perhaps matter so much; but in these difficult times, when the great majority of people who own and operate cars are only just able to afford it by the narrowest of margins, anything which is going to swell the weekly bill for the family car is likely to be left severely alone until indisputable proof of its success is available. Before those lucky people who do not mind drawing extra checks, the fat tire floats like an enticing dream. The passenger in a twoton sedan, limousine, landaulet or saloon, or even in an open tourer, is charmed with the luxury of travel he gets; and for him, in his blissful ignorance, the new tires represent the last word in progress and road comfort. To the driver and owner, intent on other kinds of comfort, such as peace of mind, they represent nothing of the sort. As things stand at present, we in Europe are offered four distinct types of fitment, each of which requires its own special type of wheel; the Dunlop, with its single piece rim and wired cover-edges; the Michelin, something on the same lines; the Clincher, fitted on to a divided rim, locked into place by a spring-ring; and the American straight-side pattern. As country dealers cannot or, at present, do not carry a full stock of each size in each type, it is easy to understand that your war-impoverished motorist regards the fat tire with distrust, though it may be with longing.

THERE has been talk of an official comparative test of all four types by the Technical Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, with a view to imposing a standard type on all makers; but the Secretary informs me that there is no likelihood of any such drastic step being taken for some considerable time. So there is plenty of time for the discussion to grow into a problem, though the British are ordinary slow to accept any such innovation.