The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-02

problem of keeping business undisturbed while adapting the rubber industry to war conditions. Among the economies which will result from standardization and the discontinuance of unnecessary sizes. these who have examined the plan have pointed out two as of chief impor- tance Dealers will no longer need to carry the wide range Of sizes heretofore necessary if their stocks were to he con- sdered at all representative, and that portion of the manufacturer raw ma terial heretofore set aside for production in sizes and types of tires which are known as slow moving" will be avail able TOW for manufacture into sizes which move quickly.
 Manufacturers of passenger au-
 tomobiIes are to be asked to fit
 their future production with one
 of the following sizes of rims:
 3ox31s, 32x3Is, 33x4 and 34x4t2.
 These are to take tires of those
 sizes. with the following respec-
 lively as oyersizes: 5Ix4, 33x4.
 3zx41. aHd 35x5.. For trucks there
 are to be three standard sixCN of
 pneumatics; 3Gx6,. 3Sx7 and 40xS.
 The two sizes that fit the smallest
 rims are designed to be of clicher
 type; all others to be of straight
 side type. Both plain and nom
 skid types are to be retained.
 In classifying sizes for present or fu- ture elimination from manufacturing schedules, those which are to be dropped at once contain only tires which sales records of the principal companies show are no fcnger in demand anywhere. No hardship will be worked by disseminating these, and if there still be an occasional car that might require tire of one or these odd sizes, there is said to be a present stock sufficient for all needs.
 The next class embraces tires in sizes which nave not been furnished as equip ment for a long time. They are practi- cally obsolete, though sales records still show slight trace of demand for them. To take care of this demand during the coming summer, after which it is cal culated these cars will practically cease to be a factor in the market. November has been set as date for disseminating such odd sizes.
 A still larger group of sizes no longer furnished as standard equipment with any car, but still in service among many of those cars now running, is recognized in another classification It is felt that in setting a date in November, 1919, to drop these sizes ample allowance has been made for cars which use them to outlive their usefulness.
 Other provisions are made for still further extensions of time on sizes that are at present in active demand for equipment replacements through regular trade channels. There is, too, a senti- ment i1 well informed quarters that any of the arrangements now eontemplAted affecting cars of current models, should be subject to such necessary adjustment as needs of those cars two or three years from this time may indicate as advisa ble
 guarantee that the plan is entirely practicable is found in the fact that this measure of economy has been prepared under .ha watchful eye of practical tire men, whose recommendations have been made after careful scrutiny of the records of their own companies.
 The recommendations of the committed mean that after the needs of all ears running have been served throughout the period of their existence, and automobile makers have brought their own pfoduc ton into line to conform with the new recommendations, pneumatic tires vii be made in but six sizes for passenger cars and three for trucks. with four size! of rims for passenger cars and three fol trucks, instead of the present indefinit, number listed by the various manufac i turers.