Arizona republican., 1918-06-16
TIRE SITUATION INF FORMATION |S
 RECEIVED HERE

The tire situation is one that many automobile owners are beginning to be concerned about. A rise in prices seemed natural enough in face of the embargo on rubber. but would the scarcity in raw material make it pro- hlbitive, is the question that has arisen in the minds of many people?
 Bob Saufley, of the Saufley Rubber company, stated that he had some re- cent communications bearing on the subject from the Kelley Springfield Tire Co., at Akron Ohio. which he gives as follows:
 During the next three months (May, June and July) importations of rubber from South America are to be limited to 25,000 tons, which would be at the rate of 100000 tons a year as against 165,000 tons during 1917.
 Uncle Sam's own present rubber re- quirements are estimated at 10000 tons a year. or 10000 tons every three months, so that out of the 25,OOO tons to be imported during the next three months only 15,000 tons of raw material about 35 per cent of last years fig ures-Will go to the rubber industry for it's regular requirements. This 15,000 tons is to be allotted to various manu- lecturers on a proportional basis, the proportion each company is to receive being determined by the authorities from the questionnaires which have been filed.
 Exactly what effect the governments s action is going to have on the tire situ- alton it is too soon to say, especially as no one knows whether or not the restriction will be lifted at the end of the three month period, but from pres ent indications it is reasonable to as- sume that before the summer is over a more or less serious shortage of tires will exist.
 Naturally government orders are to have priority. After they have been taken care of, the demands of private owners will be given consideration.
 To prevent hoarding and profiteer- ing, the government has fixed the prices of crude rubber. While the prices fixed are fair and while We believe the action of the Government in fixing them to be wise, it is hardly likely that this price fixing will have much effect in keeping down the prices of finished ruber products, these prices being reg ulated largely by the supply of and demand for particular brands of goods.
 The one bright spot in the situation is the fact that the big tire manufac- turers have agreed to cut down the number of sizes of pneumatic tires. It is stated that no more Ford cars are to be equipped with the 30x3 sizes, the standard Ford equipment to be 30x31S tohugh the government will use 31x4, the oversize.
 In the future. the following sizes of tires are the only one that will be of fered to car manufacturers:
 3Ox31s 33x4
 31X4 34x412
 32x31s 35x5
 The larger tire makers have further agreed that within two years they will discontinue entirely the manufacture of all tires of sizes other than those emu merated.
 The car manufacturers on their side are all going over to the straight side type of tire, which means a further great saving to the whole tire industry. The tire manufacturer can now con- centrate on the production of fewer types and sizes. and the dealer in his turn can carry complete stocks of a full line with less strain on his bank account.
 The situation brought about by the limitation of rubber shipments is thus by no means an unmiXed evil. Un- doubtedly it is going to hit some manu- lecturers rather hard, but if it will free any ships for transport purposes it is going to be worth whatever it costs. Our industry is not the only one that has suffered from a restriction of the raw material supply, and if by putting up with a little hardship we can help to end the war by getting an army into France more quickly, we are going to grin and bear it. 1