Firestone fills tyre gap

Press, 24 April 1986, Page 28

Firestone fills tyre gap

Owners of cars fitted with 145/70SR 12 tyres should no longer have replacement problems, for the Papanui-based Firestone Tire and Rubber Company has extended its Eurosteel range and is now manufacturing tyres of this size. The need for a locally manufactured tyre of this size arose because the recently introduced Suzuki Alto, which is assembled by Suzuki New Zealand, Ltd, at its Wanganui plant runs on 145/ 70SRs and so there is an original equipment de'mand for it However, over the •years a number of cars 'have been imported or assembled locally fitted 'with this particular size of ’tyre and owners have found to their dismay that replacements have been difficult to obtain from local tyre retailers. The reason has been that such tyres have had to be imported and as the number of cars fitted with the size has always been limited, importers and retailers have been reluctant to carry large stocks. ■ In future, small car owners should have no problems because re-

tailers will have the tyres available off the shelf. The 145/705R12 is also suitable for the Mini Clubman, a car no longer assembled locally, but. nevertheless, is still very popular. It was also fitted as original equipment to a number of other small cars that are no longer In production or available new in New Zealand, although a significant number are still in use. Firestone’s 145/705R12 is a steelbelted radial and, like others in the Eurosteel range, is of a compound developed specifically for New Zealand road conditions. In the past, the imported tyres have been of compounds compatible with road conditions in the country of origin. On that basis the locally manufactured tyres should have a larger life and afford better traction. The Suzuki Swift and its Holden Barina badged-en-gineered brother are also fitted with 121 n diameter wheels, but they are of greater rim width, than those of the Alto and so are fitted with a wider section tyre which is manufactured locally by Dunlop.