The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-22
Grave Transportation Threat
 Seen As Tire Supply Shrinks
BY BURTON HEATH NEA Staff Correspondent

Washington, Dec. 22.-There are 40 million tires on passenger auto mobiles that ought to be replaced right now. Millions more are fast wearing down to the point where they will need replacement. But 1t will be well toward the end of 1945 before even the most urgent de- IttandS-for tires already worn out
 -.can be satisfied.
 Moreover with more than half of the worlds non-military trucks "a truck for every 28th American the United States depends more than any other country in the world upon truck transportation, More than a million trucks-one- fourth of the nations total-are on the farms. More than three million are owned by individuals or organ izations not engaged primarily in the transportation business. Approx imtaely 6O0000 are 'for hire" trucks. This vital branch of American Transportation is threatened by an acute war-caused shortage of heavy duty tires. Motor bus transportation is similarly inperiled. The serious ness of the situation is recognized by government officials and the rub Der industry and some palliative measures have been taken, but the situation is still highly critical.
 John W. Thomas, chairman Of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.,, says that at least 70 million pas sanger car tires will be demanded for civilian use in the first year after both Germany and Japan are beaten. This will be both to euuip new automobiles and to replace oBtworn cesinRs on old cars.
 NEED 4O.0ON.OOO TIRES
 Already there is the need for 40 million tires for replacement purposes alone, it is estimated by the industry, and MT. Thomas gives a figure of 45 millions that now need or shortly will be ready for replacement"
 This year, the rubber industry is. producing close to 18 million passenger car tires, which are go- inc to the most essential drivers. Industry leaders feel that If tne war in Europe ends very early nexC year. releasing manpower. they can make 40 million passenger car tires in 1945. Any delay in Germany's collapse will retard and limit this production.
 The new tires, as they come along, are made from the plastic populsrly known as synthetic rub Der. They are very good. The ln- dustry has learned lot about mak- ing and using Buna s synthetic III tires. But they are not as good as some casual statements by those who know better. would indicate. Ordinarily synthetic rubber still oyerheats, in the body of the tire, more than 1t can stand and this deteriorates the plastic so that it cracks and splits and breaks.
 The B. F. Goodrich Company, which has been sympathetic to synthetic rubber, considers it likely that until some further discovery may change the situation. the tire of the future will be made with natural rubber in the carcass (wbere heating takes place moSD and a synthetic tread, as heavy duty tires now are made.
 SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES"
 s"Onlv the utmost effort on the part of all operators to obtain the last possible mile from present heavy duty tires can prevent ser1- OuS consequences" warns J. E. Powers, manager of the truck tire department of Goodrich.
 Meanwhile, the rubber industry hopes that motorists will heed a few simple warnings so that the nations g remaining passenger cars can be kept on the road:
 1. Even by the end of next year. chances are no more than two out of three. that you will be able 70 replace the tires that are getting thin already. Probably your chance is less than that.
 2. If you let re-capping go too long, cut of the false optimism or carelessness, your tread will be too thin for re-capping, and you'll be stuck.
 3. If you don't watch imitation, curb-scraping, jack-rabbit starts and skidding stops. you'll ruin both treads an dsidewalks, and have to jack up your car for months, or even in some cases for more than a year.
 4. If you have, or soon get sym thetic rubber tires, don't be fooled into thinking the ywlil stand under imitation and 50-to-50 mile an hour driving like your pre-war tires did.