26 BULLETIN 931. U. S. DEPARTZtfEXT OE AGRICULTURE. 
Of 161 men who now use pneumatic tires — 
159 prefer pneumatics. 
2 prefer solids. 
Of 1ST men who now use solid tires — 
49 prefer pneumatics. 
136 prefer solids. 
2 prefer pneumatics in front and solids in rear. 
Of 336 men who now use pneumatics in front and solids in rear — 
191 prefer pneumatics. 
100 prefer solids. 
45 prefer pneumatics in front and solids in rear. 
In all 24 per cent now use pneumatics. 27 per cent use solids, and 49 
per cent use pneumatics in front and solids in the rear. However, ex- 
perience has caused 58 per cent to decide that pneumatics are best for 
their conditions. 35 per cent that solids are best, and 7 per cent that 
pneumatics in front and solids in rear are best. 
The kind of tires which a man considers best depends considerably 
on the size of his truck. The kinds which the owners of machines of 
different sizes prefer are as follows : 
Of 70 owners of |-ton and f-ton trucks — 
64 prefer pneumatics. 
6 prefer solids. 
Of 4S1 owners of 1-ton trucks- 
279 prefer pneumatics. 
162 prefer solids. 
40 prefer pneumatics in front and solids in rear. 
Of 90 owners of li-ton and 11-ton trucks — 
44 prefer pneumatics. 
42 prefer solids. 
4 prefer pneumatics in front and solids in rear. 
Of 43 owners of 2-ton trucks — 
12 prefer pneumatics. 
28 prefer solids. 
3 prefer pneumatics in front and solids in rear. 
RELIABILITY. 
The reliability of a motor truck, as that of any other machine, has 
a very decided effect upon its profitableness. If a truck is out of 
commission for several days at a time when its services are needed 
and when its owner is depending upon it to help him through a busy 
time it can scarcely be considered a profitable machine for him to 
own. Likewise, if a great deal of time is lost on the road on account 
of motor and tire trouble, breakage, and other mechanical difficulties, 
this loss and annoyance may overcome all the advantages attending 
its use. 
In order to obtain information as to the reliability of motor trucks 
for farm use these truck owners were asked to give both the number 
of days their trucks had been out of commission when needed during 
the past year and the percentage of the time lost while using them. 
