Tyre Shortage ‘Will Drive Cars Off Road'

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31319, 15 March 1967, Page 14

Tyre Shortage ‘Will Drive Cars Off Road'

(Neu; Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, March 14.

Thousands of cars in New Zealand are being driven in dangerous condition because of over-patched tyres and tubes, and if the shortage of popular tyre sizes gets much worse many cars will have to go off the road.

Mr R. F. East, a former Dominion president of the Retail Motor Trade Federation, said in Dunedin that this situation throughout the country was rapidly becoming critical. Motor dealers were already being forced to buy tyres from retailers to keep their customers’ cars on the road, he said, and tubes and tyres which would ordinarily be scrapped, were being repaired time and again. “It is up to the rubber manufacturers’ association to

do something about it,” he said. “If they don’t do something pretty quickly, the motor retailers will have to move. OFF THE ROAD “The time is very near when cars will have to be put off the road for want of tubes and tyres. “The situation has been brought about since the 20 per cent cut in imports of raw materials was imposed in the last licensing schedule. “Couple this with an annual increase of 6 per cent in the number of wheels on our roads, and it is obvious what must happen. “The reduction in new-car schedules will help, but there

is no hope of catching up with demand." RE-TREAD DEMAND The great increase in retreading had created a bigger demand for tubes. “All sorts of tyres and tubes are being repaired,” said Mr East. “Some cars are downright dangerous because of it, but it is the only way to keep them on the road.”