4 ms·

As a side note, I have never heard of steel tires, but apparently in WW1 they were a big thing: - Truck spring wheel: http://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/

• ChuckMcM 10y ago
  Those are pretty awesome. Thanks for the links. I could certainly see how they would be hard on roads.
• kiddico 10y ago
  I think I can see some grooves on the first picture, but I don't see anything on the second (bike) picture. How did those grip onto anything at all?
  • stagbeetle 10y ago
    Treads are usually for harsh environments: hard rain, ice, mud, to increase traction and avoid hydroplaning. In regular environments (see: driving on paved road) they actively work against speed by reducing road contact due to tread gaps. That's why racing vehicles use smooth wheels: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/01/26/388620.1-lg.jpg http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/01/26/388620.1-lg.jp... http://www.slowtwitch.com/articles/images/6/75576-largest_MICHELIN_PRO4_Grip_cropped.jpg http://www.slowtwitch.com/articles/images/6/75576-largest_MI... Plus most cars were still using slick (smooth) tires up until around the 1940s-1960s and (I don't believe) were fast enough to have a threat of hydroplaning. ETA: Just remembered you were talking about the bike. Considering the background, it looks like it was used on dirt roads so if ever mud happened to be in the way, one could just carry the bike over. Dirt roads also don't usually require too much turning and are fairly sturdy, so there's little reason to believe skidding was a common problem. Even if it were for sidewalk/road riding, you can easily get out of the way of puddles and slow down easier than cars.
• mc32 10y ago
  They are pretty neat --but I have to wonder, how did that assembly deal with torsion when braking or in the rears when applying power?