Much Tyre Mileage Still Wasted
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WHEN one reads the report of the Tyre Controller's " speech in your issue dated January 22, one realizes that there are several aspects of the rubber industry in which he is not too well versed. His remarks on the production of synthetic rubber may be pardoned, for, obviously his interest is in the Tyre Section of Rubber Control and he cannot be expected to be aware of the intricacies of other branches.
In his reference to synthetic rubber he merely repeats the peculiar statements so often voiced by various members of the Government, to the effect that it is more simple to produce in the U.S.A. and bring the finished product over than to import crude 'oil for conversion here into synthetic rubber.
When will Government spokesmen realize that Germany is a very large producer of synthetic rubber, and we have been assured so often that she is very short of oil. The fact that synthetic can be produced from other sources than oil will, doubtless, eventually permeate into the official mind, and then, perhaps, we may hope for an effort towards the establishment in this Country of a synthetic rubber industry.
Dealing more with his own Department, namely, Tyre Control, one naturally expects the Controller to be more knowledgeable, and whilst all in the trade are very appreciative of the many difficulties which beset Lord Rothes, some of his remarks make strange reading. It would appear of paramount importance for the con, troller of any industry to get to know the industry in all its aspects, and if Lord Rothes were fully conversant with all branches of the tyre trade, many of his
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difficulties could and would have been more readily overcome.
As one simple solution to his problem that a tyre is an indivisible object and the man with 200 gallons of petrol per month needs the same tyre as the other with only two gallons, might I suggest that he should not think in terms of tyres but in terms of mileage. By following this suggestion various answers readily (A) SECOND-HAND TYRES.—There are scores of thousands of these in the hands of dealers who have specialized in this branch over many years. These second-hand tyre have been and are frozen by the Government, and although a plan for dealing with them is supposed to be in existence it •does not yet seem to be operating. With the laying up of so many vehicles millions more of good serviceable tyres could be collected and put into cirnlation.
(B) RETREADED TYRES.—Certain favoured firms are. retreading to capacity, and there must be enormous quantities now available;with specialized sorting of scrap tyres there should be a constant flow of serviceable casings suitable for retreading.
(C) NEW TYRES.—Experience teaches us that the following average mileages can be secured from the above categories:—
(A) 4,0006,000 miles.
(E3) 6,000-10,000 „ (C) 10,000-20,000 „ so that the allocation of various grades of tyre for specific essential-service vehicles should not be insurmountable. The chief obstacle to this fairly simple scheme seems, to be the reluctance of Tyre Control to recognize secondhand tyre dealers; the other sections of the tyre trade, namely, retreaders and new-tyre manufacturers, are already well to the fore-front due.
I would like this opportunity of making a suggestion to the Controller, and this refers to a displayed advertisement appearing in the 'national Press, showing illustrations of two tyres, one suitable and the other unsuitable for retreading. These illustrations are very misleading, for the tyre shown as unsuitable and fit only for the scrap heap seems to be a reasonably good casing, and I fear that much loss may be occasioned by people treating this advertisement too literally. Once casings are consigned to scrap many difficulties occur in rescuing them, and it would he far better to consider all old tyres as potential " retreaders " and insist on them being inspected by specialized people. Those unfit as casings would eventually find their way to dead scrap, and I shudder when I think of how many perfectly good casings have been wasted through insufficient experience in sorting In conclusion, I am pleased to support Lord Rothes in one respect, and that is the measure of support given by the Press generally and." The Commercial Motor" in particular. If I may, I would like to cite one instance 'onTy—the wonderful series of articles you are publishing entitled, "How Tyre Mileage is Wasted " These have all been exceptionally well written, very instructive and informative and must have resulted in the saving of thousands of miles of wear.
A. A. CRESSALL, Managing Director, for Cressall Tyr 9 and Rubber Co., Ltd. New Malden.