Fold-up Spare Tire (Feb, 1957)
Filed under: Automotive — @ 10:27 pm
Source: Science And Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Feb, 1957
| Buy on Ebay
Source: Science And Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Feb, 1957
| Buy on Ebay
Fold-up Spare Tire
TAKING up a space of only about 6 x 10 x 14 inches when folded, this collapsible spare tire is just about glove-compartment size. Developer and manufacturer is The Gates Rubber Company, Dept. SM, 999 S. Broadway, Denver 17, Colo. The compact spare is quickly slipped over a wheel rim after the damaged tire has been removed, and inflated with a carbon dioxide cylinder. With a tread life of about 1000 miles, the tire can be easily deflated, removed from the wheel and refolded for future use. The Fold-Away tire will soon be available through tire dealers for approximately 75% of the cost of a standard 100 level tire; tire puller and carbon dioxide cylinder will be included in kit later.
How can you remove a tire from a rim without the big hydraulic machine they use at the tire shops on the side of the road with your bare hands?
Comment by Al Bear — May 5, 2009 @ 12:27 am
It can be done with tire irons – but I certainly would not want to be doing it in traffic.
The trick with removing and replacing a tire is the drop rim – the depressed center section. You need to force the bead down into that dip to give it enough clearance to get over the rim edge. I’ve done it by hand – it’s an annoying task but doable by hand. There is a reason complete spare wheels and tires are more popular than just a spare tire…
Alan
Comment by Al — May 5, 2009 @ 7:50 am
Then there’s the butane trick.
Comment by Toronto — May 5, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Alan, I doubt you tried this while wearing high heels.
Interesting concept that never, um, gained traction.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — May 5, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
Who cares about the tire? Is that Eva Marie Saint?
Comment by Torgo — May 5, 2009 @ 8:46 pm
“Alan, I doubt you tried this while wearing high heels.”
Errrr…no. Not on a bet. I just don;t have the legs for it…
Comment by Al — May 6, 2009 @ 9:24 am
I love this idea. What could possibly go wrong?
Comment by RagManX — May 6, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
this article makes me tired
Comment by fred — May 6, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
She can change my rubber anytime.
Comment by hans — May 7, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
Of course, this idea did catch on, in a way. To save energy, instead of cars having a real tire as a spare tire, they now have a much more expensive temporary spare which only lasts long enough to get the car to somewhere where a replacement tire can be obtained.
Comment by John Savard — May 10, 2009 @ 10:14 pm