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 ‑ "