Fresh Squeezed Orange Oil Tires

Tires are the only thing between the entire rest of your car and the ground, so it goes without saying that they are extremely important factors in the safety, efficiency, and handling of your vehicle. There is more to it than simply making sure you have a properly functioning air fuel ratio sensor and O2 sensor. There are several components to a great tire, but two main components that effect fuel efficiency and longevity of the tread are the rubber and oil mixture used to make the tire.

 The outside tread of a tire is usually comprised of 10% oil from petroleum products. The composition of a tire seeks to compromise traction, tread life, and rolling resistance. The less rolling resistance you have, usually the less traction you have. Less rolling resistance leads to better fuel economy (less fuel to get the car moving and maintain a speed) but typically a more slick tire that doesn't have great handling. Tire company Yokohama discovered that replacing the petroleum oil with orange oil resulted in a tire that offered a 20% reduction in rolling resistance without sacrificing performance in traction. Yokohama’s orange oil tires allow for a better tire in all three categories.

 

They introduced these tires three years ago with the dB Super E-Spec, offering only four sizes and orange oil racing slick tires that were used in the American LeMans Series to show its true durability. They are now making a new orange oil tire called the AVID Ascend in a variety of sizes that cover about 85% of the touring market. They are marketed as eco-friendly, as they are now comprised of rubber and orange oil, both renewable resources (as opposed to petroleum). 

If you’re into performance tires, the new AVID Ascend is definitely worth looking into. They are priced just slightly above other brands of touring tires, but maintain much higher tread-life warranties making the extra cost well worth it. And if you’re concerned about the environment, it’s a great option as well. However, if you're looking for a citrus-y scent to accompany your burnouts, you're going to have to settle for one of those sandpaper trees hanging from your rear-view mirror.

The First Auto Show – 1900

With the New York International Auto Show in full swing this week, it’s interesting to take a look at the humble roots of this show. Back to a simpler time before air fuel ratio sensors and 02 sensors. The very first of its kind was held in 1900 at Madison Square Garden. The weeklong event displayed 31 brand new vehicles and a variety of accessories to customize each “horseless carriage.” Even more interesting is this excerpt from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on October 13^th, 1900 describing the show: 

“During the Automobile Show at Madison Square Garden, November 3 to 10, there will be contests of many kinds. The usefulness of the automobile in all kinds of going and under all conditions will be fully tested, and everybody will have an opportunity to see how the experienced chauffeur gets out of trouble. All the contests but these on Friday will be for vehicles on the show, and the programme, under the directions of the technical committee and the contests and exhibition committee of the Automobile Club of America, C.J. Field, chairman, will be as follows–

• November 3: Brake contest and obstacle contest for steam vehicles.
• November 5: Brake contest and obstacle contest for electric vehicles.
• November 6: Brake contest and obstacle contest for gasoline vehicles.
• November 9: Obstacle contest between electric cabs for hire, competition of electric delivery wagons.
• November 10: Championship competition and obstacle contest between winners in steam, electric and gasoline, championship between winners of stopping competition in steam, electric and gasoline.”

  

 The focus was more on pitting the different engine types against one another in feats of agility and power, versus the different styling and technological features we have today. There was a special ramp built to test the vehicles power for driving up inclines, and to prove how rugged and durable the Oldsmobile runabout was, they drove it from Detroit to NYC.  Patrons were charged 50 cents for admission, yet despite the steep price (about $13 in today’s cash) about 48,000 visitors attended throughout the week. 

The Oldsmobile runabout, or “Curved Dash,” was the world’s first mass produced car. It was built between 1901 and 1907 and sold for $650. General Motors bought Oldsmobile in 1908 and produced more than 35 million vehicles under that name before it retired it in 2004. None of the automobile makes displayed at the first New York Auto Show exist today.

The first car advertisement, 1898.

Interestingly enough the gasoline powered engines were the least popular vehicles at the first show due to their noisy and noxious qualities. They ran on “light spirits” such as stove gas, lamp oil, alcohol, and of course gasoline. Gasoline was once an unwanted byproduct of producing kerosene (the oil used for light and heat at the turn of the century) and cost only 15 cents a gallon. It was quickly discovered that gasoline was the superior fuel and provided far greater horsepower, so its popularity took off.

It’s interesting to look back at how far auto shows and the cars showcased in them have come, but the basics are still the same. If you’re planning on attending the New York Auto Show this year, think back on its humble beginnings – if you can remember while drooling over the new 2013 SRT Viper.