Evening star., 1942-01-08
Ceiling Planned
On Retread and
Used Tire Prices
Cost in D. c. Soors
After Bon on Sole
Of New Rubber

spokesman for the Once OF Price
Administration revealed today, as
the result of drastic price increases
in this field since the Government
clapped the lid on new tire sales.
While the o. P. A. announced it
was being flooded with reports of
price boosting, a survey in Wash
ington disclosed that .retreaded
tires, which a few weeks ago clut-
tered store windows and stock
rooms, have all but disappeared.
The few retreaded tires left are
bringing premium prices, in some
instances exceeding the cost of new
tires a month ago. Even used tires,
ones abandoned or traded in by
motorists, are scarce and are selling
as high as $40 each.
Retreading Cost High.
A car owner seeking new treads
for thin tires must pay up to 50 a
tire for that job, If he can get 1t
done at any price. Many retread-
ers are out of rubber, and those
who have it are loaded with work.
All these troubles for the motor
ist were brought out in a survey
of District tire stores and factory
branches of the country's largest
manufacturers.
People have been buying any
thing they can get their hands on, p"
one dealer said in explaining why
there are practically no retreads and
few used tires on the market. He
had no tires or tubes of any de-
scription on hand, no rubber to
patch up old ones that might be
brought in.
Il am even out of castings I used
to sell for junk" the dealer added.
An official of the American Auto
mobile Association was skeptical
when told of the survey findings.
One Dealers Case Cited.
Il hate to ruin good story" he
said. but call Mr.. -, his firm
does as much retread and recap
work as any in the country. I was
down at their branch plant two
weeks ago and it was packed with
made-over tires. You might take
a run down there, it's really a reve-
lation to see them. They have thou
sands"
The Star called Mr.. -.
I'm sorry, but we can't sell you
any retreads," was the answer re-
ceived. I'VE are sold out. In fact,
we are 5000 or 5000 orders behind.
We are sold out for weeks, maybe
months. In advance. Yes, used tires
are scarce. We are buying all we
can get, and that's not many"
THAT seems impossible" the A.
A. A. oflcial commented when in
formed of the result Of the call.
He suggested there might be hoard
ing of retreads and used tires by
the larger firms. He made a hasty
investigation OF possible boarding,
which revealed that motorists are
buying up all the old tires they can
and are holding the ones they have,
but no evidence of dealer boarding.
The check did bring forth one
dealer who wanted $3.50 for re-
tread The investigation will be
continued. Association figures show
that on January l the price of re-
treading, the country over, had
risen Is per cent. Some dealers
prices were up IS per cent.
The Stars investigation started
when motorist complained to The
Star that a dealer wanted $12.99
for a small car tire retread, several
times the price of month ago.
When he complained, the motorist
was told that next month he would
be glad to pay SIS for the tire.
Another typical example is the car
owner who last week paid slightly
more for two retreads than he did
for two new tires four weeks ago.
100 Per Cent Increase in Price?
Nearly a score of tire stores were
oueried in the survey, and only
eight retreaded tires of a size used
on smaller make cars, the type
owned by vast ajority of motor
lists. were found for sale. Two
dealers had three retreads each
and third had two. The queries
were made on the basis that the
reporter wished to purchase tires
for his car.
One dealer with three retreads
wanted S1O.95 apiece for them, and
said he could throw in patched tubes
at 81 each. He admitted this was
an increase in price of more than
100 per cent.
The second dealer with three asked
$975 for the tires, SITS for patched
tubes.
The other man refused to quote
any price over the telephone, but
suggested I'VE might get together" If
the reporter came by. He said he
charged So and 50 for retreading old
tires.
so would I, brother" dealer re-
marked when the caller suggested
he would like to purchase some re-
treads. He said he handled big
retreading business, but couldn't
take orders for a month or more
He had some used tires with a few
miles left in 'em" but no tubes at all
Plants Supply Exhausted.
The factory plant of another large
tire manufacturer had no retreads
or used tires for sale, and did not
know when any would be in. He
said they could take no orders te
renew tires owned by motorists fol
more than 60 days.
: The price here for retreading OF
recapping tires ranges from IS to
80. But only two dealers were in
position to give immediate service
that is, service within week. The
others were either out Of rubber
or were overloaded with orders.
Recapping means applying new
rubber directly on the rubber OF
the old tire, while retreading is tear
ing of the old to the fabric and
rebuilding from there.
Prices asked for used tires which
have not been renewed range from
$3.50 to $40. The $40 tire was said
ito be good for 5000 miles"
One of the city's largest dealers
offered used tires at from $6.95 to
1895, old tubes at $3.50. Before tht
Government invoked the ban on
neW-tire sales many used tires could