Life, 1912-02-01 · page 6 of 48
Life — February 1, 1912 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a political cartoon or satirical piece—it's **advertising content** for Goodyear No-Rim-Cut Tires, presented as editorial material in *Life* magazine. The ad compares Goodyear's No-Rim-Cut Tires against five competitors, claiming they average 16.7% larger capacity than rival brands, despite being advertised as only "10% oversize." The text emphasizes practical benefits: increased load capacity, improved mileage, reduced blowouts, and lower tire expenses—all at standard pricing. A comparison table shows cubic capacities across tire sizes (30×3, 32×3¼, 34×4, 36×4) and competing makes (numbered 1-6), with percentage advantages listed. There is no satire here—this is straightforward commercial messaging using comparative data to market product superiority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
No-Rim-Cut Tires Proved Average Oversize, 16.7% Goodyear No-Rim-Cut Tires are ad- vertised as “10% oversize.” And we claim that this oversize adds 25% to the tire mileage. The actual oversize over five leading makes was lately found to average 16.7%. Note the table below. Oversize is not measured by calipers. It is measured by air capacity. Air carries the load. The figures here show the cubic ca- pacities. Only three tires in these twenty comparisons came within 10% of our size. That’s because No-Rim-Cut tires have the hookless base. Your remova- ble rim flanges, with these tires, turn outward instead of inward. Thus the tire has an extra flare. Oversize means over-tired. It means extra carrying capacity without over- loading. It means to save blow-outs—to in- crease tire mileage—to cut down tire expense. Yet these oversize tires, which can’t rim-cut, cost no more than other stand- ard tires. That’s why they outsell all others. Comparison of Sizes Between Six Leading Makes of Tires No-Rim-Cut Oversize Cubic Capacity 489 in. 402 in, 21.5% 381 in. 29.4% 371 “ 318% 383 “ 27.5% : cee. 865 34.0% 1—No-Rim-Cut . 637 2... . Sl 608 5.5% 877 10.4% 536 186% 577 10.4% 16.5% No-Rim-Cut No-Rim-Cut Rated Size Make Oversize 34x4 No-Rim-Cut Cubic Capacity 1—No-Rim-Cut. 4 5 6— Average No-Rim-Cut Oversize, 16.7 % i} We over-¢ ented are si Wi the s on pr But perce condi the ti An showr more Iti featur condi THI Bran