8 out of 10 American-made products are preferred by the American consumers according to the consumer reports. 60% consumers are reported to pay 10% more for the goods that are domestically manufactured. Yet the Associated Press poll presents another picture. 3 out of 4 consumers were found to prefer American-made but finally purchased foreign-made item with less price. What do these contradictory reports say?
There is a constant conflict where the question of foreign-made and American-made products comes. Domestically-made items are preferred by the consumers but in the end, budgetary constraints win and they buy foreign-made items. A lot of American-made goods are not cost-effective. Do they offer enough value to justify the price? What is value?
Merriam Webster defines value as, “A fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged.” Simple! You spend money and expect a fair return. If a tyre falters fast, American-made or not, it will take you nowhere. It perturbs your budget and livelihood both.
The market is full of options but the question of “which tyre is the best?” is still daunting. What should you buy? All-season or specialized? Foreign or domestic? Let’s break down this question with the fundamentals.
The foundation of the tyre
The first gasoline motor was invented by Benz in 1888. It included pneumatic tyres on its wheels. In 1845, the pneumatic tyre was invented by Robert Thomson, a Scotsman but this tyre did not attract the consumers until John Boyd Dunlop, another Scotsman made a tyre for the tricycle of his son in 1888. Thus, the concept of an air-filled rubber tyre mounting on a wheel of metal was replaced by metal wheels. The first pneumatic tyre was made in 1905; it had increased traction because of treads. In 1913, the assembly line was invented by Henry Ford. With the industrialization of synthetic rubber by Du Pont, the American company, mass production of tyres became possible and the consumers found the age of modern tyre.
The journey of advancements in tyres went on and the radial tyre (1949) which offered an increased fuel efficiency with an equal road contact of the tread through vertical cords. In 1980, RunFlat tyre was known as rolling on the uneven and scratchy surface. In 2000, the era of environmentally-friendly Eco Tuning tyres started to match the needs of eco-friendly motors.
When you visit to buy tyres, you will come across a large variety but looking from the angle of material, they are made up of natural and synthetic rubber along with carbon black. Natural rubber is provided by Hevea Brasiliensis, the rubber tree native in South America and grown on tropical basis in Western Africa and Southeast Asia. No matter they are made in America or anywhere else in the world, their making depends on the tropical plantation of rubber trees outside USA. Synthetic rubber is taken from crude oil polymers; carbon black comprises of natural gas or crude oil blended with oxygen in a combustion process.
70 percent of the rubber of the world is consumed by tyre manufacturers and the scientists are now trying to find new alternate of rubber. Almost 93% of rubber supply comes from Asia where they are striving to preserve the rainforests. The guayule shrub can be an alternate in the time to come. It is a desert plant grown in the US and is known for less intake of water and resistance to disease.
Where tyres are prepared
John Boyd Dunlop takes the credit of re-inventing pneumatic tyre while working on his son’s bicycle and then he developed this tyre for cycle racing. Being a veterinary surgeon and Scottish inventor, he spent most of his time in Ireland. He formed a company named irish Cyclists’ Association with Harvey Du Cros, its president and sold his rights to pneumatic tyres to it.
Surprisingly, he sold it for a small sum and shareholding in the pneumatic tyres business. In 1896, Dunlop withdrew but the company bore his name as Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company though it was created by Du Cros.
Made in IE
Dunlop sold his right for a small amount and shareholding and he lost his patent rights. Retired from his veterinary practice in 1892, he moved to Ireland when Du Cros refloated Booth Bros of Dublin as the Pneumatic Tyre and Booth's Cycle Agency with him. The pneumatic tyre brought a revolution in the tyre industry.
In October 1887, John Boyd Dunlop developed the first inflatable or pneumatic tyre for his son's cycle. Dunlop made pneumatic tyres while he was trying to add comfort to bicycle of his son. The tyre has a sheet rubber to be inflated. Successful running these tyres helped him make them commercial and Harvey Du Cros paid attention to his tyres when a cyclist won all races with the tyres developed by Dunlop.
In 1888, Dunlop was granted the patent but he was unaware of the fact that another Scot, Robert William Thomson had patented this tyre in 1847.
In 1889, Hume, a cyclist won all four cycling contests in Belfast and Harvey Du Cros got attracted to the tyre Hume was using in the race and he set up a company with Dunlop. Both of them revived an irish company and renamed it as Pneumatic Tyre and Booth's Cycle Agency.
Dunlop sold his right for a small amount and shareholding and he lost his patent rights. Retired from his veterinary practice in 1892, he lost his interest into tyres.
1896, Du Cros sold his rights to Terah Hooley, a British financer for £3 million and Hooley re-sold it to the public for £5million.
Early in the 20 th century, the company was renamed as Dunlop Rubber. Dunlop is seen on a variety of Dunlop products though the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company does not exist as a separate corporate entity.
In 2005, Dunlop was included into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
A good tyre has a value
The poorly-made tyre is, for sure, to wear out soon. Buy an inexpensive, poorly-made or used tyre and you will find yourself back in the tyre market searching for another tyre. Buy a poorly-made, expensive tyre, and you’ll face the same music. Spend your money to buy a quality tyre and expect to see long tyre life combined with an excellent road performance.
The nutshell is to buy the tyre that is optimal with longer life and peak performance. An optimally-built tyre saves your money and increases fuel efficiency. Gas saving can be 4 to 7 percent with tyre size and design. An ideal design increases road traction and longevity.
You can have an extra amount to spend on tyre. Fine! But don’t compromise on value. Maybe you spend a little extra amount but the domestic manufacturers are striving for delivering you the maximum value in response to the amount to pay.