Tyre shortage delays vehicle deliveries
Page 32
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A CRITICAL SHORTAGE of heavy-duty tyres is presenting operators with long delays in the delivery of new commercial vehicles and could soon lead to increased prices.
While most hgv manufacturers are at present absorbing the additional cost of having to buy tyres on the Continent or through the replacement market — instead of as original equipment — it is expected they will soon be forced to pass the extra cost on-to the haulier and fleet operator through increased vehicle prices. Deliveries of new vehicles have already been severely affected by the situation, with stock piles of commercial vehicles growing daily in the manufacturers' yards. A spokesman for Fodens told C/1/: 'It is critical. We have a DAm worth more vehicles standing in our yard than usual, We have been forced to buy tyres, at .fairly high prices, on the Continent, behind the Iron Curtain, in Japan — anywhere we can get supplies." Because of the excessive price of these tyres it could mean an increase of £220 on an 8-wheel vehicle.
Several factors are said to have led to the situation. Besides the general shortage of raw materials, tyre manufacturers also claim that they are still suffering from the after affects of the three-day week and also from the general trend in change, from cross-ply to radials.
A spokesman for British Leyland truck and bus division said: "By using every available source we are just keeping our heads above water, but the situation is causing serious concern."
At Mercedes-Benz's Wakefield depot there are 340 chassis waiting to be fitted with tyres, with only 50 tyres being delivered a week. So far the company has been importing chassis fitted with crude wooden wheels, but this too has led to problems. Because of the wooden wheels the braking systems are inoperative and the vehicles have had tc be chained down wher brought across by sea These chains have cause( a great deal of damage tc the vehicles in transit.