Evening star., 1942-04-06
Relief From Rubber
Shortage Unlikely
For Two Years
Current Tire Scarcity
Reported Growing
Steadily Worse
BY DAVID ]. WILKIE,
Wide World AutomotiYe Editor.

DETROIT, April 6.-Just in case
you may have forgotten it the rub
Der situation as it affects the oper-
alton of privately owned passenger
automobiles is growing steadily
worse, with no appreciable relief In
sight for at least two years.
That's the outlook as related by
individuals most vitally concerned
In keeping the Nations 2S,0O0,0 900
passenger vehicles rolling-the for
mer automobile manufacturers and
the dealers whom the car builders
want to see stay in business through
the war emergency.
Representatives of tie car in
dustry and of the governmental
production control agencies respon-
sible for spreading available goods
over the greatest number of essen
tial users have heard reports that
some Japanese controlled rubber
might pop up in South American
markets and that production Of SUBJ
stitutes may be greater than so 1ar
has been indicated. They insist,
nevertheless, that some time be-
tween July and September OF next
year I'VE will run out Of rubber"
Motorist Is Warned.
Counting upon the production OF
up TO 100000 tons of synthetic rub
Der and some obtained from guayule
and other natural sources in 1914
these experts predict that by the
end of that year we'll be back where
rubber can again be released for
civilian use"
This appraisal of the rubber Sit
uation is about as accurate as can
be made at this time. 1t means,
without reservation of any kind,
say the industry authorities, that
the average motorist need not hope
for any tire requirements for nor
NAL purposes during the next two
years.
1T thus becomes the motorists
own responsibility to determine
whether he can count upon using
his car without interruption during
that period" said one Of these in
dustry chiefs.
In proposing personal rationing'
as a conservation measure, the car
makers have suggested various forms
of economy and maintenance OF the
car mechanically. To the warning
against high speed driving as rub
Der consumer they have recently
added the suggestion that night
driving is easier on tires than mid
day operation. Moderate over
imitation of sound tires also has been
advanced as q means of prolonglng
their usefulness.
Restrictions Difficult.
Admitting that arbitrary restric-
tions on private passenger car oper-
alton has been considered by the
governmental production control
authorities. one official said recently
that the trouble is that we have
found it difficult to develop for
mula for determining precisely what
cars should run"
The automobile trailer, he said,
may have to figure largely in the
transportation of war plant workers
when the expected bulge in employ
ment develops.
1T has been found" he said, that
the trailer will save at least Is per
cent in rubber consumption and
under certain conditions up to IS
or 40 per cent for like carrying
capacity"
Just how far the transportation Of
war workers In trailers drawn by
conventional passenger automobiles
may develop was not indicated, but
1t was made clear 1t will be encour-
aged In areas where transportation
facilities are inadequate to the pas
senger load.
This encouragement probably will
be given in the form of a complete
''unfreezing" of trailer construction.