Evening Star Newspaper, February 24, 1924, Page 24

22700007 7 iz 27, 0070 22 X T %222 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FEBRUARY 24, 1924 PART 1. SERVICE DEALERS Frankly Answer 20 Questions Motorists Are Asking About BALLOON UM-DIPPED CORDS Much confusion and misrepresentation has been caused by manufacturers offering oversized cord tires, announced as ‘‘Balloons” or ‘‘Balloon-type,”’ which are in reality semi-balloons. The true Balloon was pioneered and perfected by Firestone. We, the Firestone Service Dealers of this territory, after talking with hundreds of in- terested motorists, have prepared the following 1 What is a real Balloon Tire? The true Balloon is a super-size Gum-Dipped Cord that is specially designed and constructed. It has twice the air capacity and operates success- fully with only half the pressure of regular tires. “’e believe it to be the most important contribu- tion to motoring comfort, safety and economy since the invention of the pneumatic tire. 2 How does it differ from the interchange- able, or ““Semi-Balloon*? T!\e so-called “balloons” that are interchangeable with present wheel and rim equipment are merely 10% to 20% oversized cord tires, with fewer plies. They are little better than your present regular cords. The true balloon has double the air ca- pacity of the regular tire it replaces, has its thin- ner side wall made extra strong and is mounted on a smaller diameter wheel, so that the gear ratio of the car is unchanged, and the proper fen- der clearance is provided. 3 Can a real Balloon Tire be applied to present wheels? ' NO. To provigie sufficient tire section to carry the load on low air pressure it is necessary to have a larger tire than can be applied to wheels and rims now on cars using high-pressure tires. 4 Why are the smaller wheels necessary? Firestone Balloon Gum-Dipped Cords do not change the present operation of your car. For in- stance, a 7.30 balloon gum-dipped cord replaces a 33x§ standard-size tire, It is mounted on a wheel 20 inches in diameter. This makes the outside gimmeler actually no greater than the standard tire it reqlaces, We have special service wheels built by Firestone, with spokes offset three-quarters of an inch. This readily takes care of fender and body clearances. And it is a fact that you cannot replace a regular 33x5 tire with a semi-balloon without wheel changes. 5 Who was responsible for the real Balloon Tire? Firestone made the low air pressure idea practical and developed the Balloon Gum-Dipped Cord to its present point of utility. 6 What made the real Balloon Tire practical? GUM DIPPING. Low pressure tires require thin side walls that flex easily as road shocks are en- countered. Firestone found the way to combine extreme flexibility with toughness and strength. The Firestone gum-dipping process impregnates each cord with special rubber compound. 7 Has the real Balloon Tire been Tested? YES. Before announcing Balloon Gum-Dipped Cords to the public, Firestone submitted them to more than two million miles of test driving, and millions of additional miles of actual service have strongly emphasized their wonderful advantages. 8 Do Automobile Manufacturers offer real Balloons as original equipment? YES. Sixteen leading car mauufacturers today offer Balloon Gum-Dipped Cords as original or optional equipment. They put Balloon Gum-Dip- ped Cords to their own tests before offering them to the public. 9 Do Automobile Manufacturers offer Semi- Balloons as original equipment? NO. No automobile manufacturer uses Semi-Bal- loons, either as original or optional e~nipment, as they would change gear ratios, interfere with fen- der and body clearances, and cause other mechani- cal difficulties. 10 Do real Balloons make riding more com- fortable? YES. They do what tires from the first were in- tended to do—cushion the car on air. Bumps, holes, answers to twenty questions, SO that you may be - fully acquainted with the situation and authentically informed about the .construction fea- tures and advantages of the genuine Balloon Tires. You, no doubt, have either asked these same questions—or at least have had them in mind. Now — you have them frankly and truthfully answered. and irregularities are completely absorbed, making even the worst road smooth to travel. If you have never ridden on real Balloon tires, you cannot con- ceive the luxurious riding comfort, the wonderful feeling of safety and complete relaxation they make possible. 11 Are True Balloon Cords safer? YES. Balloon Gum-Dipped Cords virtually elim- inate skiddins, and give you both wheel and brak- ing control of your car, never before experienced. Their broad, flexible treads have twice the con- tact area with the road. Multiplied crosses, squares and deep grooves cling to slippery sur- faces and increase the traction. 12 Do they add to the life of your car? YES. By cushioning jolts and vibration below the hubs. Wear and tear on the motor, gears and bear- ings, from the pounding of the road. is reduced. Crystallization of chassis parts is slotved down and body squeaks and rattles are minimized. 13 Do Genuine Balloons cut down power or increase fuel consumption? NO. Balloon Gum-Dipped Cords do not change the ger ratio of your car—do not increase gasoline consumption—do not decrease tire mileage—dP not decrease acceleration—do not affect the car’s hill-climbing ability. 14 What happens when a real Balloon Tire is punctured? NOTHING. In the first place, they do not punc- ture as easily as ordinary tires due to the fact that they yield ratber than be pierced by the puncturing object. Secondly, when a puncture does occur the air escapes slowly because of the low pressure. 15 Do they make steering harder? NO. Steering is actually easier when car is in motion and long distance runs are made with much less fatigue to driver, as car holds a steadier course. When maneuvering into a cramped park- ing space more of an effort is required at the wheel. 16 Do real Balloon tires “shimmy>? NO. Not when wheels and tires are correctly bal- anced. Due to Firestone’s unusual method of bal- ancing tube and carcass, with proper relation to valve, splice, bead and other parts, vibration in steering mechanism is practically nil. 17 How am 1 to know a real Balloon Tire? By its greater size, its thin side wall, its distinctive tread of grooves and crosses and squares, the name Firestone on the side wall and the Mark of Quality. 18 Are real Balloon tires standardized ? Automotive authorities have approved the Balloon Tire as applied to 20 and 21 inch wheels in the sizes offered by Firestone—4.40 and 5.25 on the 21- inch wheel, 620 on both 20 and 21 inch wheels and 7.30 on the 20-inch wheel, 19 Are real Balloon tires made for all cars? YES. The genuine Balloon Gum-Dipped Cord can be had in sizes for all cars. For instance, a 7.30 Balloon Gum-Dipped Cord replaces a 33x5 standard-size Firestone, and a 4.40 Balloon re- places a 30x3Y;-inch tire, used by light car owners. ‘We have the wheels and rims built by Firestone which make Balloons applicable to all makes and models. 20 Who will make the change-over to real Balloons for me? ‘We will. And do it so quickly, too, because we are supplied with the Firestone special service wheel for Balloon equipment. We would like to explain this feature to you in detail and answer any other questions you may have in mind regarding this wonderful tire. Drive around any time, and let us arrange to take you for a demonstration. A ride on Balloon Gum-Dipped Cord—on any street— will amaze you. Balloon Gum-Dipped Cords—the Original and Only Commercially Tested Low Pressure Tires FIRESTONE SERVICE DEALERS Absher’s Garage 1311 E St. SE. American Accessories Co. 4140 Georgia Ave. N.W. Automotive Accessories Co. 10th & E Sts. N.W. Automotive Supply Co. 2lst St. & Pa. Ave. NW. . Plaza Auto Supply Co. 401 Mass. Ave. N.W. Highway Auto Supply Co. 2106 R. I Ave. N.E. Mobile Auto Supply Co. 1012 H St. N.E. Akron Auto Supply Co. 522 7th St. S.W. Cord Tire Sales Co. 14th & V Sts. N.W. C & G Tire & Battery Service Crosstown Auto Supply Co. Edwards Motor Service Co. Buchanan Auto Supply Co. Monarch Auto Supply Co. Herbert’s Tire Repair Shop Benning Service Station 719 North Capitol St. 1801 14th St. N.W, Duke’s Tire House 1207 9th St. N.W. 1503 R. I. Ave. 4601 14th St. N.W. 1801 L St. N.W. 1230 Pa. Ave. N.W. Meyer Herson 62 H St. NE. 3300 Benning Rd. N.E. Johnson Bros. 2101 K St. N.W. 41, St. Auto Supply Co. 522 45 St. S.W. Harry B. Kerr 3320 M St. N.W. Southeast Auto Supply Co. 629 Pa. Ave. SE. Hartford Battery Co. 9th & Pa. Ave. S.E. L Street Garage 1705 L St. N.W. McCurdy Auto Accessory Co. " 4203 Georgia Ave. N.W. J. B. Mazzullo 2203 Nichols Ave. S.E. Piney Branch Filling Station 6401 Georgia Ave. N.W. Mt. Pleasant Garage 2424 18th St. N.W. Northwest Garage Rear 1213 13th St. N.W. 917 H St. N.E. 1617 14th St. N.W. Ramsdell Tire Co. 1802 L4th St. N.W. Schultze Garage 1496 H St. N.E. 216 Wajren St. N.E. Capitol f{ 215 Pa. Ave. N.W. 14th & D Sts. S.W. Modern Auto Supply Co. Reebilt Tire Co., Inc. Smith Service Garage adiator Co. . Speedway Auto Supply Co. National Auto Tire Co. ~: 439 K St. N.W. Truck Tire Service Co., Inc. Rear 1610 14th St. N.W. United Tire Stores 2601 Pa. Ave. N.W. * Washington Accessories Co. L 17th & L Sts. N.W. Economy Auto Supply Co. Capitol Heights, Md. Shepherd & Bro. Clarendon, Va. Lee Highway Service Rosslyn, Va. Brosius Bros & Gormeley Rockville, Md. : N . \ \ \ \ § N \g § \ Z