Tyre Makers Turn to Steel, Rayon and Nylon

26th September 1958, Page 188

26th September 1958

Page 188

Page 193

Page 188, 26th September 1958 — Tyre Makers Turn to Steel, Rayon and Nylon

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FRESH development problems have been posed to tyre manufacturers by the heavier payloads which goods vehicles may carry, greater acceleration capabilities and improved braking of both goods and passenger types, together with, to a growing extent, the higher sustained speeds which are becoming possible on modern highways.

Their answers are to be found at Earls Court in the form of a trend towards the greater use of steel wire and nylon for carcass fabrication. Strong claims are made by one exhibitor for a new tyre produced according to a novel process.

Thirteen new tyres may be inspected. Seven of these are for ordinary. road use —the Avon Highroad, Bergougnan H.T.S. and H.T.S. Premium, Fisk Transporta

Lion Nylon. Goodyear Cross Rib 3-T Nylon, India G.17 Red Flash and Pirelli Cintura. The Pirelli Carriload 421 is recommended for fast long-distance vehicles. The India P.T. Red Flash is an anti-static tyre for public service vehicles, and the Bergougnan R.D.S. is intended for multi-stop delivery work.

Remaining new tyres are for vehicles which operate over rough surfaces, and are the India Super Rufway, Pirelli Atlantic and U.S. •Royal Super Fleetmaster.

Highroad covers are stated by the Avon India Rubber Co., Ltd., Melksham, Wilts (Stand 205 P), to have an extra thickness of toughened tread rubber. Shoulder recessing affords cool running, and double-reinforced buttresses provide protection against chipping caused by kerbing. The Avon display is augmented by Highway Coach and Highway Monarch tyres, also the Highway Airseal, a tubeless cover fitted to a one-piece drop-centre rim. Traction Mileage tyres for rough surfaces anti Express Delivery covers may be inspected, and low-loader covers are also exhibited.

Premium covers in the H.T.S. range of the Bergougnan Tyre Co., Ltd., 95 White Lion Street, London, N.1 (Stand 209 P). differ from the standard type in having more rubber on the tread. The H.T.S. pattern features a broad continuous rib supported by robust Shoulders, which are double-buttressed on premium tyres. The R.D.S. types are designed to give long wear under the conditions in which delivery vehicles operate.

These exhibits are supported by a display of tyres for low-loaders and vehicles which are employed on abrasive surfaces.

High tensile strength, low moisture absorption and good resistance to fatigue are stated by Fisk Tyres, Ltd., Riddings, Derbys (Stand 211 P), to be conferred by the use of nylon. This company's Transportation Nylon tyre is shown together with the Rayon Transportation cover for heavy vehicles. The tread design is said to afford ease of steering, and linked buttresses are claimed-to prevent irregular wear on the outer ribs, as often occurs with tyres fitted to front wheels. The Tug-Lug cover for quarrying vehicles may also be examined on this stand.

Plies used in the Cross Rib 3-T Nylon cover shown by the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., Bushbury, Wolverhampton (Stand 206 P), are stated to afford a degree of durability such that many more retreads may be had than if ordinary textile were employed. The nylon undergdes a special process to improve its strength, and the wide tread has 'submerged circumferential ribs to buttress the shoulders to reduce scuffing action and uneven. Wear.

The Hi-Miler Extra Tread S is made by the coneetn for vehicles which make long fast journeys, and the Traction Hi-Miler is available with either a rayon or nylon carcass. Tyres for rough work and low-loaders augment the Goodyear display, and there are substantially built tyres in smaller sizes for goods vehicles, Greater -carcass strength, obtained as the result of research by the India Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., Kingsbury, London, N.W.9 (Stand 200 P), is stated to be a feature of the 0.17 Red Flash, and the casing of the P.T. Red Flash is of similar specification. -. The Super Rufway may be suppliedwith either rayon or nylon plies, and the tread design has been Modified to give longer life and better traction. Tread rigidity has been retained to prevent distortion when running over uneven surfaces, and to resist lateral forces when vehicles operate along winding or heavily cambered roads.

The Super All-purpose tyre, with bold tread and shoulder lugs, is intended for on-and-off the road use, whilst the Super Mining and Logging cover is made with nylon. The 0.17 Tubeless cover is being

manufactured in a limited range of sizes. Other India exhibits are of the Light Truck, Super Low Loader. Winter tyres, the last-mentioned being designed to give a good grip on slippery surfaces.

Constant Contact Area Major characteristic of the Cintura tyre, claim Pirelli, Ltd., 343 Euston Road, London, NW.! (Stand 201 P),. is that the are.s of tread in contact with the road surface is constant under all conditions of speed and load. This is achieved by the incorporation under the tread of a circumferential belt of tough material which enables the tread to roll without dragging.

Result of this method of construction, which makes use of both rayon and steel plies, is that a life almost double that of ordinary tyres is obtainable, say the company. The five-rib tread has a distinctive pattern. The Cintura is to go into production shortly, having been tested by a number of operators.

Offered in standard and premium form, the Carriload 421 has a tread with four ribs, the two in the centre being wider than the outer ribs so that the inner part of the tread provides a generous amount of rubber in contact with the road. The Atlantic tyre has heavy traction bars closely locked to confer stability, whilst transverse grooves are terraced to prevent stones from embedding in the tread. The 268 cover, on-and-off the road tyres and light-vehicle equipment complete the Pirelli display.

Steel-ply tread reinforcement and deep lugs for good traction are offered by the U.S. Royal Super Fleetm aster, exhibited by the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., Castle Mills, Edinburgh (Stand 210 P). Metal construction was first used by the company in the U.S. Royal Fleetway, which is now available as a tubeless tyre with -beads-to fitthe width and depth of modern rims'. The U.S. Royal Fleetmaster is also shown.

Another n.Ovel exhibit in this'section of the Show is a solid-rubber tyre made of Duthane, a synthetic material based on polyurethane and haVing an amber colour. It is shown by the Dunlop Rubber . Co., Ltd., Birmingham, 24 (Stand 203 P), Duthane, whilst not likely to be used for pneumatic tyres,.is hard-wearing and grease-resistant, and indicates the extent to which research into materials alternative to rubb6rfcir tyres has been taken.

The company present a notably. diverse range of tyres for varioits purposes. A Highway low-loader cover is shown with its sidewall buffed away to reveal the underlying strip which resists damage because of kerbing. Highway 'Major, Roadtrak Major, Power Grip and Roadster tyres may be inspected. The last is :designed for use on rough, winding roads.

Whilst the remaining exhibitors do not announce any new equipment, their products have been subject to steady development, and what may be lacking in novelty is compensated for by the experience behind their current offerings. The Davies Tyre Co., Ltd., The Hyde, London, N.W.9 (Stand 204 P), show their Classic and Classic Light Truck tyres, together with the Dual-Grip for rough surfaces. This is also available in sizes for low-loaders, in which case a scuff bar is built in the sidewall.

The Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., Great West Road, Brentford, Micklx (Stand 207 P), have a wide range of covers on show, including Tubeless Truck-Bus tyres fot Firestone-type one-piece drop-centre rims. Transport Heavy Duty covers are augmented by Super Transport premium types, and the Super Mileage Lug is the company's most recent product. This is an on-and-off the .road tyre with nondirectional characteristics and recommended for rear wheels.

All-Traction tyres are available in two versions: the Heavy Duty may be used when conditions may lead to a reasonable expectation of wear, but the 100 type is for use when premature failures may otherwise be reckonedupon. Tyres for low-loaders and battery-eIectric vehicles are featured together with inner tubes with high-leak resistance. .

Said to be the only tyres with a transverse tread from shoulder to shoulder, the P.G. is featured by Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., Bath Road, Melksham, Wilts (Stand 202 p). There is also the Trek Track cover for rough work, and the non-directional R.L.M. for quarrying and logging vehicles. Covers for cross-country vehicles, including the RU., which has no individual lozenges in the tread pattern that may be broken off, and for mechanical horses may also be inspected.

Reducing Tyre Stock.

Pioneers of steel-ply tyres; the, Michelin Tyre Co., Ltd., 81 Fulham Road, London, S.W.3. (Stand 208 P) point.out that the use of X covers can reduce stOcks as, for eXatriple; a. 900-20 tyre-of this type is iquivalent to similarlY -sized -textile tyres With 10-, -12and 14-Ply-ratings. The complete range of eight X tyres from 7.50-16 to 11.00720 is said to equal 25 textile giant

tyres. • •

Michelin also exhibit their Metallic and Steel tyres, the•difference between the two being that,although both have wire plies, the Metallic-cantiot be mated with other tyres whilst. the Steel is made in dimensions matching with textile covers, thus allowing twinning, for example. Lighttruck and Delivery covers complete the display.

Occupying Stand 150 PU in the Transport Service Equipment section, Tyresoles, Ltd., Palace of Engineering, Wembley, Middx,. exhibit their new Standard Giant tread for remoulded covers, which may be processed by the Wyresoles technique. Operators who are selective in their choice of tyre equipment will find much of interest at Earls Court.