The Tire Wire

Barrett-Jackson, the annual car collector event that gathers auto lovers from around the nation, is held this week in Scottsdale, AZ. Being located just miles from the extravaganza, it’s hard to miss the pile-ups of tricked-out and souped-up classics making their way into the tents. This year’s event will auction off a record fourteen charity vehicles.

Some of the beauties on show and up for auction include a stunning 1934 Ford Custom Coupe, a 1957 fire red Ford Thunderbird and a cream-puff yellow 1954 Roadster. Even a “Popemobile” – a 1999 Vatican vehicle from General Motors – is up for sale.

Barrett-Jackson is such a spectacular attraction because every car has been maintained beautifully, demonstrating the quality craftsmanship of the original manufacturers and the dedication of their owners to preserve the iconic look and feels. The show is a representation of the inherent American fascination and appreciation for the automotive industry.

In a time when cars are more often criticized than celebrated, it is nice to have events like Barrett-Jackson that bring us back to our original love: good, old-fashioned, show-stopping cars.

The next Barrett-Jackson event on the calendar is “The Road to Paradise” in Palm Beach, Fl the week of April 9th.

Ohio is the latest environmentally conscious state to join the mission for a greener world from the ground up: The city of Lima is working towards securing a road project through the state department of natural resources that proposes using asphalt made with ground scrap tires for new and improved city roadways.

Asphalt rubber has been around for several years, and its utilization is continuing to grow throughout the country. Benefits of an asphalt upgrade in Lima include a 900-tire landfill reduction, four year increase in roadway lifespan, reduction in asphalt cracking, and decrease in traffic noise and emissions. Approximately 12 million tires have already been recycled for roadways, with California and Arizona using the most for highways.

Although the project sounds like an easy win for the Ohio city, the $150,000 grant was rejected the last time the city applied and there are no guarantees it will be passed this time around. There are a few drawbacks to asphalt rubber that may be to blame: bad smell, smoke, sticky material base and high costs to implement. However, as the 2 to 3 billion abandoned scrap tires continue to stockpile, the risk of tire fires increases, which poses serious environmental threats.

For individuals concerned with tire recycling, most tire retailers will accept your old treads. You can also check with local recycling facilities and solid waste management agencies, but it is not common for companies to buy scrap tires.

For car enthusiasts concerned about keeping up on the latest trends, sometimes the most buzz-worthy car parts come from distant locations. Originating in the Netherlands, Vredestein tires have become a popular performance brand name known for their sleek look and quiet capabilities. Customers choose the tires to achieve a smooth ride with ultimate control, which make them especially popular for winter driving.

Not only is the tire brand garnering attention within the auto market, but its image has caught the attention of the advertising industry as well. In November, Vredestein was named a “Cool Brand” in the newest edition of “CoolBrands, the Guru Book” – a prestigious marketing source that provides a collage of the world’s most interesting product or service advertising.

The official tire for the Audi Q5, Vredestein spurred shock and awe with their take on the spare tire. Incorporating functionality and innovation into design, they developed a folding tire called the Space Master that can be inflated in minutes, while still being capable of traveling long distances. The tire made for premium vehicles is an ultimate space saver.

The inventive tire company emphasizes creativity, specialized research and state-of-the-art equipment in their product development, experimenting with new applications of materials and production procedures to ensure that their products are highly competitive. The independent company works closely with vendors and aims to produce a range of tires with optimal price-quality ratios.

A variety of factors go into the fuel economy of a car. Although tires are not often the first feature that energy-conscious consumers look into when measuring the gas efficiency of a vehicle, tires do indeed contribute to the way in which a car uses fuel.

The role of tires in gas efficiency has been a hot topic of discussion in the past: President-Elect Obama made the claim in April 2008 that tire inflation boosts gas mileage — a remark that was initially mocked, but turns out to be supported by reports indicating that proper inflation can improve mileage by 3 percent. Other variables in fuel efficiency include tire weight and rubber make.

5 percent of gas is used up by the rolling resistance, or energy output, of a tire. Low-rolling resistance tires perform the best in government fuel economy tests because they require the least amount of push to move. Consumer Reports researched the affects of low-rollers on gas mileage, calculating that about $300 a year can be saved by opting for tires with the best rolling resistance.

California led the way for state-wide support of a fuel economy initiative, implementing a gas-efficient tire program in summer 2008 that establishes minimum efficiency standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Of the approximately 26 million passenger vehicles currently registered in California, 21 million vehicles are not running on low-rolling resistent wheels. The California Energy Commission projects that if these cars used tires with a 10% lower rolling resistance, the result would be a “statewide savings of 252 million gallons of fuel, $882 million, and 2.7 million metric tons less CO2 emissions annually.”

Resilient Technologies and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Polymer Engineering Center are working together to perfect a “non-pneumatic tire” that will support excess armor weight, survive IED attacks and still be able to make a clean, 50 mph getaway when escaping enemy combat. The airless tire looks like a honeycomb encased with a thick tread for ground grip.

The four-year, $18 million project is in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. Resilient pursued the development in response to the military’s need for an alternative to their current Humvee, which requires a small amount of air pressure for its tire, and if punctured can leave men stranded.

“The goal was to reduce the variation in the stiffness of the tire, to make it transmit loads uniformly and become more homogenous,” said mechanical engineering professor Tim Osswald. “And the best design, as nature gives it to us, is really the honeycomb.”

Soon, rims will no longer rep auto authority – “How big’s your honeycomb?” will be the new standard.

Looks like Wall Street isn’t the only U.S. market in dire need of government assistance in today’s fragile economy. The auto industry has experienced such a rapid decline since the beginning of the year, the biggest American auto makers are begging for a portion of that infamous $700 billion rescue plan. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi proposed an auto bailout bill yesterday, which could potentially extend the reach of the government funding beyond the financial industry. GM, Ford and Chrysler are seeking $25 billion in urgent assistance. The total bill would be $50 billion.

Hemorrhaging cash due to an extreme lack of consumer purchases, auto makers claim that rigid limitations to borrowing have prevented sales in an industry that is largely driven by credit. GM’s crippled financial standing has grown increasingly evident in recent months: It reported a 45% drop in U.S. sales last month and a net loss of $2.5 billion in the third quarter. Ford is in the best shape out of the three, but still burned through $7.7 billion last quarter.

Autoline blogger John McElroy wisely noted last week that GM was in position for bankruptcy if help didn’t come through soon: “Unless a miracle happens, there’s only one place it can realistically turn to: the Federal Government. The company needs a bridge loan to get it through this downturn. And it needs the money yesterday.”

The next question is: What does this mean for foreign competitors in the U.S. market? Honda sure hasn’t been deterred by global economic turmoil. It even opened a plant in Indiana just last month. Excited president of manufacturing, Yuzo Uenohara, declared: “With continued high demand for the Honda Civic, we are honored and excited to help meet the needs of our customers in North America.”

There’s no doubt that many Americans are frustrated and bitter over the success of foreign manufacturers. But the simple and irreversable truth is that Asian and European models sell, and American makers continue to fall short in satisfying consumer needs and interests. If the bailout does come to pass, hopefully the Big 3 are driven to produce autos that put the customer first.