PLASTIC TIRES
Am I too far out if I ask if acceptable automobile tires could be made with plastic materials?
I have asked that question before, and each time I do, I am greeted with scathing looks which seem to tell me my hearers think my Alzheimer's must be kicking in a bit early.
I still wonder, however, about th potential of plastic tires and I would like to know why it can't be done.
I realize such a tire might not be the perfect gem as far as riding comfort is concerned. Solid tires do not, generally, suggest soft-pillow like passage, and there is nothing that says such plastic tires would have to be solid in construction. It just seems the logical way to get started.
I remember when truck tires were solid. I recall seeing heavy U.S. Navy trucks - both electric and combustion-powered models - in parades in Norfolk,Virginia in post WW- I days. The heavy tires on big, spoked wheels were solid, but with two-inch holes cut through them about six inches apart to allow for some buoyancy.
I find plastic materials being used freely in toys including wheeled craft for kids. They could be done far more sturdily than these creations, but the process is well on its way.. When I see fence post and entire fences being made of just a bout indestructible messes of stuff such as used plastic shopping bags boiled down , I am more convinced than ever that the same sort of thing, made in proper doughnut-style circles would serve us well as tires.
Certainly such an industry would meet with acceptable by environmental control people - whatever happened to be in style at the moment. The snail darter would be safe; the pleated-plaid gobble worms secure!. We would also be cutting down on the national trash bag piles,as well. We could look forward to a time when used tires would simply be ground up and used again, rather than saved in horrendous accumulations which always seem to catch fire and burn for years polluting most of Earth with fumes of burning rubber.
Has any major firm be engaged in such a plastics venture? Has anyone done any real testing in the field? If, so why don't we hear about such research and study. It may be that it would be too much trouble to build it up and then turn it over to China. Let them come up with their own scheme for once!
Either the idea of making tires with plastics is so despicably stupid that it does not even merit discussion, or we are, purposely avoiding any development of new ways to build better tires - of even just passable economy types - for fear of upsetting someone's profit cart by doing so.
Now, who could that be?
A.L.M. July 22, 2003 [c491wds]
