TOO MANY TYRE SIZES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18382, 28 September 1929, Page 12

TOO MANY TYRE SIZES.

In spite of efforts at tyre standardisation the number of sizes on the market is increasing. Car manufacturers are to blame more than tyre firms. Designers insist on specifying wheels according to their own ideas and when they are producing in the mass, tyre companies cannot; ignore the opportunity to cater for the equipment of these cars and for replacements Twenty-eight different sizes are in use on 1929 models of American cars as compared with 22 tyre sizes in 1928. If car makers would c:> operate it would be possible to serve every car on the market with naif a dozm sizes. This would greatly simplify rim and tyre production and tyre stocking would be simplified. The motorist would reap the benefit in lower costs and in a few years’ time a dealer with this small range would be able to accommodate every car cr. the read. It would be possible to get almost any tyre at the small 3it retail garages. Over 10 years ago the American Society of Automobile Engineers recommended seven sizes of tyres covering both passenger and commerioal vernales. Unfortunately their advice does not seem to have been taken seriously. Under the most liberal conditions : wen sizes for cars and four w five fer commercial vehicles would impose no handicap lon vehicle manufacturers. Unfortunately the effect of standardisation is so belated that k is not given the consideration it deserves. One has to look six or seven years ahead when most of the existing cars will be off the road. If sensible standardisation had been carried out for that period we would find production limited to half a dozen rim sizes with an almost negligible demand for the innumerable sizes on the old cars still in service. The membership of the New Zealand Motor Traders’ Association at the beginning of this month was 1428. Petrol distilled from coal is being tested by aeroplanes in England. The fuel is being used at the Stag-lane aerodrome, near London.