Life, 1915-03-25 · page 6 of 44
Life — March 25, 1915 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Miller Tire advertisement**, not satirical content. The "Skid Question" headline uses a playful double meaning: it asks what prevents skidding while promoting Miller's "Geared-to-the-Road Tread" tires. The imagery shows a driver at a steering wheel with an oversized tire displayed prominently. The ad's actual message concerns tire safety and traction on poor road conditions—a serious concern for 1920s automobiles on unpaved or icy roads. The ad emphasizes Miller's manufacturing methods (the "Miller Method" involving wax and oil vulcanization) to explain why their tires provide superior grip and durability. The text stresses that tire *interior* construction, not just exterior appearance, determines safety. This is straightforward product advertising targeting safety-conscious motorists, not political or social satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
eae oe ‘What: s the Answer to the Skid Question? You expect the tread to be strong and secure. But do you know that the But to Protect You They Must Be On Your Car! HEN your car’s geared-to-the-road you can put i Khe £, ” . tread is at the skid fear’? behind you forever. To drive with merey' of the confidence and comfort—to have your car instantly | fabric inside obey your slightest touch at the steering wheel — to secure abso- the tire? You lute traction on slippery city streets or on treacherous country can’t judge alli roads, you must have a tire that is built to meet those conditions. tire merely by : its exterior ap- » Miller “ Geared-to-the-Road Tires” are scientifically built to gear your car to the road through mud, sand or slush. With Miller tires on your car you're in control. Its tread is an integral part of the tire and retains its safety features until the entire tire is worn out. The greater mileage you get from them will make your choice of ° MillerzeTires An economy, as well as a permanent safeguard. But Miller Safety Does Not Stop There Miller mileage and safety on the road are due to exclusive methods of tire building in the Miller factories. The ‘‘ Miller Method’ retains the nataral vegetable wax and oil in the cotton fibre during the process of vulcanization. And this natural lubricant in the cotton means less internal friction and more life and miles in your tires. Wax and oil carbonize at 240 degrees; There are the old method requires about 287 de grees to villeanize a tire. The Miller Method vulcanizes at a low degree of heat without robbing the fabric of its life-giving wax and oil, and thus saves the fibre from becoming brittle and los. g its tensile strength. Your Miller tire has not been “ burned out” during anufacture—all its wear, tough ness, endurance and all its’ mileage are preserved for wear on your car. responsible Miller dealers everr= where—twerite us if vou can't locate yours, Distributors in the Principal Cities The to the Road