THE TIRES
Light and heat are the worst enemies of rubber; spare tires should be kept in a cool, dark place, and protected from dust and moisture. French chalk, or some similar preparation, should be well dusted over the shoes and tubes, and if the tubes are folded, they should occasionally be opened and refolded in fresh places, to prevent the formation of creases. The spare tire that is carried on the car should be kept in a casing, and because a dark surface will absorb more heat than a light, the casing should be tan, gray, or white rather than black. The casing should be as proof as possible against moisture, but for safety should occasionally be removed and aired. The position of the shoe in the holders should be changed every little while, in order that the straps may not cut into the bead.
The tires on the wheels should receive care, and when the car is left standing, it should be in the shade whenever possible, to protect them from the deleterious action of the sunlight in hardening the rubber. They should frequently be examined, and any cuts filled with strong cement, for otherwise water and sand will work in to form blisters and to separate the layers of fabric from the rubber. The cutting of tires can be reduced by withdrawing the clutch when crossing broken stones, the car coasting over them; driving the car over such a surface will force the tires against the sharp edges, and cutting will result more surely than when the tire rolls over them.