North British Build U.S. Tyres
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THE North British Rubber Co., Ltd., Edinburgh, have turned over their great tyre-productive resources to the manufacture of U.S. Royal equipment. The Scottish company will thus be able to benefit from all the research, development and production techniques of the Associated U.S. Rubber Co., Ltd., of New York, as applied to tyres.
The whole range for commercial vehicles and cars conforms strictly to American specification and quality, yet the individual types will incorporate certain modifications to meet the demands of British vehicles and roads. The new project follows years of planning, and intensive effort during the past 18 months, to ensure adequate supplies in Britain, and full distribution from the company's dealer organization has been available since January 1.
Entirely new in design and construe tion, U.S. Royals will replace the tyres previously produced by North British.
Specially for commercial operators are the U.S. Royal Fleetway. which is an all-purpose tyre, and the Fleetmaster, which is for on-or-off-the-road use. The Fleetmaster has been on the market here for some months and was then known as the Dominion Royal Fleetmaster. If the claims of 41 per cent. greater mileage against many competitive makes can be upheld by the Royal Fleetway, it should have a marked influence upon tyre costs. One reason for the claimed addition is termed " micro-mixing " of the tread compound, which ensures more even dispersion of the carbon black, whilst special plastic resins are used in the solutioning process, so that the smooth rayon filaments adhere firmly to the rubber.
Tread contours of both tyres are virtually flat and broad shoulders increase the area in contact with the road.
In the Fleetway, there is a wide centre rib and four specially deep grooves which are narrowed on the diagonals. Double shock pads, which are a combination of rayon and rubber extend into the side walls. The softer cushioning rubber in these pads is impregnated with hard tread rubber to avoid tread separation.
The Fleetmaster tyre has an irregular centre groove, and both this and the spaces between the side lugs are formed with ledges which resist the entry of stones and tend to expel them, whilst the treads are much deeper than those normally found.