MOTOR TYRES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 June 1925, Page 4

MOTOR TYRES.

INCREASE IN BRIBE EX I'KUT ED,

AUCKLAND. June I. Owing to soaring values lor raw rubber and the firming ieiuhniey ol cotton the prices for motor vehicle tyres have increased from 111 to g’G per cent iu ihe United Slates and a similar rise may he expected to alien New Zealand juices within a very short time. A number of Auckland ageiiis already have been refused cabled orders at current juices, and been obliged to accept new lists issued by American makers.

For ordinary Jilin by dim rord tyres (he increase amounts to 10 per cent, according to advices received by cerlain local agents, and the increase may he exjteeted to operate as soon as new shipments are delivered. The current price of slock high-jn'es-sure motor ear tyres in New Zealand is Bd 18s !)d (best grade), this being the universal rate quoird fur half a dozen of Ihe leading American makes. Raw rubber was quoted on the London market, last June at about 11)10 a Ih. To-day it is quoted at from J 1 Id to L'lid. re|!rc>ciit ing an increase varying from 1 .TO to 200 jter criil. The cause is attributed largely to strong Eiiro|iean demand, which still shows no signs of weakening.

A strong counteracting inliuemv is at work among American tyre manufacturers. in the form of a Jiliee-eut-tiug war unprecedented in the hisle ry of the trade. In lilgl) the dO-inch by ,'il-ineh cord tyre was priced al about Bo Ills. Under lho sjmr of Ihe “iyre. war." however, prices were reduced 1,, Bg Ills and Id 17s. according lo make and quality. In -pile of the imjKisit ion in New Zealand of a go |ier cent lax oil foreign tyres in Mait'h of I hi, year there was .1 general t'eaililM llli'til of retail |M.ec listissued Ly a host ol makers hearing remarkably tinilurm price. Best grade tyr. v ol the "las- r.'l'ei red to are now pilot; :l at Bd ISs Oil. users gcnctul'y that the “lyre war” has not keen r.uuhieive lo a. high standard of qualify and marked liii'f renre.s iu wearing attributed to it are jaunted out by the discerning. Ii ievidenl that, less substantial work is being put into many of the makes in ihe effort to keej) working costs within Ihe small margin allowed by the forced scale of low jtl'iees, In fact talk of ltankrtt|)tcy among some o| the smaller makers aji|iears lo he rife in the American trade.