THE RADIAL DIFFERENCE

Radial tires really do improve gas mileage. Steel‑belted tires are generally the most efficient. If all cars in the U.S. were equipped with the most efficient tires possible, the fuel savings would equal 400,000 barrels of oil per day

 

RECYCLING TIRES

Tire recycling is still a fairly untapped area. But it's a promising one. The energy used to produce a pound of virgin rubber is 15,700 BTUs. Producing one pound of recycled rubber requires only 4,600 BTUs‑‑a savings of 71%.

 

Recycled rubber can be used for tires, adhesives, wire and pipe insulation, brake linings, conveyor belts, carpet padding, lawn mower and tractor tires, hoses, sporting goods, and many other products.

 

Ground rubber "crumb? can be added to asphalt for paving roads, runways, playgrounds and running tracks. Rubber added to asphalt will increase pavement life by 4 or 5 times, and reduce the amount of resurfacing materials required.

 

Most tires produced today contain less than 10% recycled rubber, which could easily be increased to 30%.

 

THINGS TO DO

 

Buy the longest‑lasting, most fuel,efficient tires possible. Ask your tire dealer about the "rolling resistance" and the mileage performance of the tires you're considering buying.

 

 Make sure your tires are properly inflated, balanced, and (every 6‑8,000 miles) rotated.

 

 If you have a choice between tire dealers offering roughly equal prices, and one recycles, patronize the recycler. At least, ask what the dealer does with old tires; if they're not recycled, see if it's pos­sible in your area to take them to a tire recycling center.

 

Support local and regional efforts to recycle tires, to use more re­cycled rubber in tires, and to convert discarded tires into energy.

 

SOURCES

Tire Industry Safety Council, P.O. Box 1801, Washington, DC

20013. 0&rs a $4.00 "Glove Compartment Tire Safety and Mileage

Mt. " It includes an air pressure gauge, a tread‑depth gauge, four tire

tWve caps, and a 12‑page "Consumer Tire Guide ‑ "