Tyres advance on a broad front

23rd September 1966, Page 234

23rd September 1966

Page 234

Page 237

Page 234, 23rd September 1966 — Tyres advance on a broad front

Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

A HARD fact of life is that continuing

efficiency is largely taken for granted, particularly when it applies over a broad front. A typical example is the design and subsequent performance of the modern commercial vehicle tyre. Developments in crossand radial-ply, nylon, steel and rayon constructions, big singles and tubeless tyres, among others, have all contributed in recent years to better tyre performance at lower cost to the operator of commercial vehicles. Such developments continue as exhibits in the tyre section at Earls Court reveal.

Literally on a broad front is the continuing development of the large single to replace twin tyres and all the inherent disadvantages of twins. Tubeless giant tyres are on show and, more important, are now being offered more generally to commercial vehicle operators.

Flexibility, including ability to maintain an efficient service under a variety of operating conditions, is a key factor in successful road transport operation. Tyres to meet the requirements of a variety of operating conditions result in a multiplicity of types, sizes, materials and methods of construction, not to mention alternative makes. It is to the credit of the tyre manufacturing and distributing industry that despite this multiplicity and resulting supply problems, seldom does one hear of a commercial vehicle off the road for the lack of suitable tyres.

AVON RUBBER CO. LTD., Melksham, Wilts. (Stand 195) shows a new dual-purpose tyre in its "Traction Supreme". Designed for fitting to the traction wheels of commercial vehicles, this tyre has a broad centre spine for high speed running and substantial crossbars to provide off-the-road traction. It has a nylon casing and it is claimed that the rounded design of the tread shoulders reduces tearing and cutting while tapered tread grooves cut down stone trapping.

Described as a steel cord tyre built with wire breakers, the Avon Radial is also displayed on this stand. Particular attention to uniformity in construction results in uniformity in performance and high mileage.

BERGOUGNAN TYRE CO. LTD., 95-100 White Lion Street, Islington, London Ni (Stand 198) display tyres of both steel and textile construction. For long distance

haulage the HIS (Steel) and RI (Textile) tyres have been designed. The RQE (road quarries excavations) and the MP (multi-purpose) are built for rough work both on and off the highway and provide high mileage and traction.

DUNLOP RUBBER CO. LTD., Erdington, Birmingham 24 (Stand 198) has the Highway 70 tyre as the centre piece of this stand. Of nylon cross-ply design, the new seven-ribbed tread pattern is claimed to give an improvement of 30 per cent in tread wear and 50 per cent in stopping performance on wet roads.

Suitable for long hauls at high speeds the RB6 is a radial-ply tyre with steel casing and braced tread and is available in both tubed and tubeless versions. On a 9.00-20 tubeless tyre there is a saving in weight of 9 per cent together with reduced storage requirements and improved running and balance of the tyre/wheel assembly. A recent addition to the Dunlop range is the new Van tyre which is also tubeless.

FIRESTONE TYRE AND RUBBER CO. LTD., Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex (Stand 190) displays a Transport Heavy Duty tyre for general service while the Super Transport has extra tread rubber with deeper non-skid pattern to give longer life and lower cost-per-mile.

The All Traction Heavy Duty Truck Tyre has centre ribs for beneficial results on the road and strong shoulder bars to assist traction off the highway on building and similar sites.

Suitable for goods or passenger vehicles is the Steelcord tyre of radial construction. A premium tyre in this range is the Firestone Ex Steelcord with extra tread rubber providing a deeper non-skid pattern. The Light Truck tyre has heavy scuffing ribs on the sidewall as a protection against kerbing damage. The Firestone Tubeless tyre with one-piece wheel is interchangeable with a tubed tyre and wheel.

GOODYEAR TYRE AND RUBBER CO. (GREAT BRITAIN) LTD., Bushbury, Wolverhampton (Stand 194) exhibits a range of tyres in all three types of construction, nylon, steel or rayon cord. In the standard price range is the Super Hi-Miler which has virtually a double tread to reduce heat build up and provide outer toughness and resistance. Pre-stressing

during manufacture reduces operational fatigue and tread cracking.

The Super Single is designed to replace twin tyres compared with which it has less weight and rolling resistance, together with better mobility and brake cooling. It is of nylon cord tubeless construction and avoidance by its use of obstruction between twin tyres removes a major cause of truck tyre damage.

With a flatter tread pattern, extra tread depth and width, the Nylon Cross Rib gives extra strength required for heavy loads particularly on driving axles.

HENLEY'S TYRE AND RUBBER CO. LTD., Melksham, Wilts. (Stand 1 99)exhibits the Maxi-Miler, Trek-Track and Maxi-Trek tyres, together with MH and RG. The MaxiMiler is a heavy duty tyre with slim tapering buttresses to reduce build-up of heat while long wear is obtained from the wide, flat ribbed tread. For onand off-the-road work the Trek-Track has a triple centre riding to give high mileage and has rugged buttresses for improved grip. The Maxi-Trek, which is for all types of off-the-road work, has a nylon carcase. Developed for low loading vehicles, the MH is a special tyre designed to meet the requirements of extra road grip and traction, while the RG is another low-loader type but with double thick sidewalls to give high resistance to kerbing.

INDIA TYRES LTD., PO Box No. 5, I nchinnan, Renfrew, Scotland (Stand 189) shows as a central feature the new Super G89. To be introduced early in 1967, it is of nylon crossply construction for use on all highway surfaces. Greater safety in wet weather is claimed from a new method of tread construction and pattern.

Also on display are the Super G17 (cross-ply) and Super G24 (radial-ply). Both are suitable for highway use and are available in light truck sizes. High tractive power is provided by the 026 under all conditions and is obtainable in both rayon and nylon construction. For light vans there are the Autovan, Autoway and Super Multigrip while for p.s.v.'s there is the G17/PT.

JOHN BULL RUBBER CO. LTD., Fort Dunlop, Erdington, Birmingham 24 (Stand 200) is showing, in its Diamond Jubilee Year, the cross-ply giant tyres Roadway and Powerdrive, together with the Radial. Van and Envoy tyres. Also on display are radiator hose, repair materials and accessories.

KELLY-SPRINGFIELD TYRE CO. LTD., 1-3 Redhill Street, London, NW1 (Stand 193) exhibits for the first time the KRS-100 radial steel tyre. It is claimed that it provides a saving of up to 30 per cent in fuel consumption, runs cooler and gives up to twice the normal life. The KRS-100 is available in sizes 8.25-20, 10.00-20, 9.00-20 and I L00-20.

Also exhibited is the Kelly Kerbster with reinforced scuff-bands to reduce kerbing damage, the Transport Special, the Dual Trac for onand off-the-road work and the Tractor Rib designed to give increased traction on the drive wheels, longer mileage and greater non-skid properties.

MICHELIN TYRE CO. LTD., 160 Brompton Road, London SW3 (Stand 191) prominently exhibits a tubeless giant X tyre and wheel assembly. Quantity production of the special one-piece wheel necessary for this tyre now makes it possible to offer this tubeless tyre generally to commercial vehicle operators.

Michelin claims that this development is the most important advance announced by the company since the introduction of the X tyre.

Backing the claim that there is a Michelin X tyre for every job, there are also several examples of different types of the tubed version. Shown for the first time is XS tyre which has been developed with the problem of flotation in mind. After success in the Sahara Desert, this tyre in appropriate sizes is proving an advantageous fitment on dump trucks and Land-Rovers.

PIRELLI LTD., 343-345 Euston Road, London NW1 (Stand 197) shows three examples from their giant tyre range.

The Carriload P377 has been developed to maintain high speeds over long periods. A broad contour ensures long tread wear and with a Tyrex cord casing, it has improved tread life, allowing high average speeds and ensuring good remoulds.

Shown in 9.00-20 and l000-20 sizes, the Cinturato is a radial-ply cover with a textile casing braced by an inextensible metallic belt. From an absence of tread distortion and shuffle increased mileage is claimed compared with crossply giants.

For high mileage in both rough and main road operation the Cross Grip P522 is recommended.

UNIROYAL LTD., 62-64 Horsaferry Road, London SW1 (Stand 192) exhibits the Fleetway Steel Shield tyre in which the technique of embedding a special compound of tread rubber facilitates both heat dissipation and remoulding.

The Fleetway is an all-purpose giant tyre featuring an exclusive Micro-Mixing compound.

Also displayed are the Radial, Fleetmaster and Super Fleetmaster tyres. The latter two are onand off-the-road tyres with the Super version having the protection of 40,000 threads of fine steel in the vital tread area.

Uniroyal's new Lim. factory at Newbridge, Midlothian. is to start tyre production later this year.