Life, 1916-12-28 · page 31 of 41
Life — December 28, 1916 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily **advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a Goodyear Cord Tires advertisement from Life magazine. The page features two large tire illustrations set against an oil field landscape (Pennsylvania's fields along the Lincoln Highway). The visual humor is **scale-based**: an enormous tire dwarfs a smaller one beside it, suggesting Goodyear's superior size and dominance in the tire market. The text makes straightforward marketing claims—flexibility, strength, durability, and quality—positioning Goodyear as "the superior tire of America." There's no political satire here. The "sum of tire virtue" phrase is simply advertising copy emphasizing that Goodyear combines all desirable tire qualities. For modern readers: this represents early automotive-era marketing using Life's commercial pages to reach middle-class car owners making purchasing decisions during the motor age's expansion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EE Oil Fields of Pennyylvania— The Sum of Tire Virtue along the route of the Lincoln Highway All that extreme flexibility in a tire can mean—in reduced engine effort, lower pole cost and greater comfort—is elivered by Goodyear Cord Tires. All that extreme strength can mean— in longer mileage, greater security and _ sounder economy—is delivered also. ' Goodyear Cord Tires are the sum of tire virtue, from whatever standpoint you view them. | The canvas tire has not been made that ' can approach the efficiency of their con- struction, nor the rival tire that can 4 claim a level with their quality. 4) They hold by downright excellence their commanding position as the superior | tire of America. Goodyear Tires, Heavy Tourist Tubes and ‘Tire Saver" Accessories are easy to get from Goodyear Service Station Dealers everywhere. | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio a ae 2a, Pe oS = i> 4 LE 2). A 7 SL Ea Be AKRON CORD TIRES comicbooks.com