Users' Views on Metallic Tyres
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GREAT interest was aroused in this NJ-country by the launching of the Michelin metallic tyre for commercial vehicles, after many years of patient research work. A favourable impression has also been created in France, writes our Paris correspondent, who has sought the opinions of a number of users, including several hauliers handling delicate freight, such as early vegetables and out-of-season fruit from the South of France.
French people are intensely conservative, and the idea was too novel to meet
with an immediate welcome. Now, however, they are gaining confidence and metallic tyres are becoming popular, particularly with users of heavy-duty vehicles. Many important commereial.vehiele martufacturers_ fit 'them as standard-equipment. Somua,for instance, employs Metallic tyres on 95 per cent, of its chassis. The air pressure used is high7 kliegs. per sq. cm., as against the normal 5 kilogs. per sq. cm.—and more than the usual attention must be given to shock absorbers and suspension in general In the case of fragile loads, the hardness of the tyres is overcome by, fitting larger-section equipment than would he needed with the ordinary rubber and cotton construction.
Tyre bursts seem to have been virtually eliminated, only one case having so far been reported to the Michelin 'Company The Chausson company, which manufactures buses on a quantity-production basis, now fits metallic tyres exclusively.
• It claims that good weight distribution in its design permits the fitting of single tyres, instead of twins, at the rear, but considers that safety is. enhanced by the use' of Michelin metallics. They lend themselves well to vulcanizing.