Shortage Of Tyres May Continue

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31986, 13 May 1969, Page 1

Shortage Of Tyres May Continue

The shortage of new tyres and retreads as a result of the tyre tread-depth regulations is expected to continue, and become worse when the postponed regulations come into force again on July 1.

Christchurch tyre companies reported yesterday that some motorists had cancelled orders for new tyres or retreads, planning to continue with their present tyres until July.

The result was almost certain to be another last-minute rush for tyres at the end of June and in early July. “Some people are going to hang on to their old tyres as long as possible,” a spokesman for one tyre-retailing company said. “I wish they Sould take notice of the perd of grace they have been given, and make use of it.” Christchurch garages expect a last-minute rush, and some plan to stock up on tyres as much as possible before July. Supplies of new tyres and

retreads were still very short, and the tyre-manufacturing companies would not be able to fill their present back orders, let alone new orders, before July, suppliers said yesterday. The average waiting time for retreads on a customer’s casings is 10 days and no stock retreads are available. Stock casings are not being retreaded because the factories are far too busy on customers’ tyres. The waiting time for some sizes of cross-ply tyres is up to three weeks, and the situation with radial-ply tyres is much worse. Some sizes will not be available for up to two months, and one customer who inquired for an exchange radial-ply retread was given a likely waiting time of four months.

The situation was almost entirely the fault of the customers, garages said. “They had plenty of warning,” one said yesterday. “The manufacturers can make only so many tyres a day, and they have been stocking up for this since late last year. Motorists had months of warning, but they did nothing about it. “There will be another panic in July,” he said. “We have had quite a few customers ring up and cancel

tyre orders, saying they now have plenty of time before the regulations come in.”