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A Continental tire is an upright, external, mounted spare tire behind an automobile's trunk compartment. The term also describes a non-functional bulge that is stamped into the trunk lid or a cosmetic accessory to the rear of the car giving the impression of a spare tire mount. ==Development== The pre-mounted spare tire and wheel combination on early automobiles typically meant an external mounting. Early European sports cars had their spare tire attached on the back of the automobile since their trunk or storage space was often very small. The development of the enclosed trunk on automobiles meant the spare tire could be placed out of sight, but this arrangement used up valuable space for carrying luggage. Edsel Ford had a special car built after returning from a trip to Europe that would have a "continental look" – including a spare tire mounted on the trunk.〔Marshall Schuon, ( "A 50th Birthday For Edsel Ford's Continental" ), ''The New York Times'', October 14, 1990, retrieved on 2008-06-27.〕 The 1939 Lincoln Continental's short trunk with its external rear spare tire mount became a distinctive design. While this was not the first car to either carry its spare above the rear bumper or integrated into the rear bodywork, it was the first to do it so elegantly and thus this feature became known as a "Continental tire" even if the design was found on other brands.〔Jim Donnelly,( "A Classy Rear" ), ''Hemmings Motor News'', November 1, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-06-27.〕 Similar spare tire placements added to more prosaic automobiles were also described as a "Continental kit", borrowing their name from the production Lincoln Continental.〔("1941 Lincoln Continental" ), by the Auto Editors of ''Consumer Guide'', undated; retrieved on 2008-06-27.〕 There is a legend that Henry Ford II complained that the trunk of his personal Ford Thunderbird did not have room for a set of golf clubs without removing the spare tire.〔Bill Rothermel, (''History of the Ford Thunderbird 1955-2005'' ), undated, retrieved on 2008-06-27.〕 The 1956 Thunderbird had its spare tire mounted outside. However, adding weight behind the rear wheels was said to adversely affect steering and handling.〔(D'Argis, Larry. "Thunderstruck" Winnipeg Free Press, May 9, 2008 ), retrieved on 2008-06-27.〕 For 1957 the Thunderbird's trunk was stretched to allow the spare tire to migrate back inside, although the Continental mounting was still optional.〔(Vance, Bill. "1955-57 Ford Thunderbird" ), ''Canadian Driver'', undated, retrieved on 2008-06-27.〕 This external spare wheel mount became a customizing aftermarket appearance accessory during the 1950s.〔(The Continental History, undated ), retrieved on 2008-06-27.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Continental tire」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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