SIMPLIFYING tire sizes, that is, making fewer sizes, seems to be progressing backward rather than forward, according to George J. Burger, Secretary of the National Tire Dealers' Association. In discussing the subject recently with William O'Neil, President of the General Tire & Rubber Company, the latter pointed out the many difficulties which are being encountered, not the least of which is a considerable public demand for tires originally placed on cars made several years ago and no longer on the present product.

“About a year ago, following the appeal of the National Tire Dealers' Association,” said Mr. O'Neil, “it was hoped that tire manufacturers would get together and agree to turn out fewer sizes, and thus standardize and simplify the stocks which dealers are obliged to carry.

“There seems to be as much rivalry and competition among car manufacturers as there has been among tire makers, and neither group agrees upon anything very often. Usually the declaration of one tire manufacturer that a certain thing or move is right is a sort of signal for the rest to unite in declaring bitterly that it is all wrong.

“A number of years ago tire manufacturers did get together and eliminate a few sizes, but the total number in use then was insignificant compared to the number now necessary for a complete dealer's stock, and the problem has become more complex. The balloon sizes have come in. There was a great deluge of balloons at the very time the National Association made its plea a year ago. More than sixty sizes are now recognized as popular enough to find a place in a complete stock, because of the public's call for them, and within the last few months several new sizes have been introduced by car makers as equipment.

“Many of the nearly obsolete high-pressure sizes are made for cars several years old. We noted some time ago that there is still plenty of call for the 30 by 3, a Ford size for which no car has been made in the last eight years. Therefore, as car owners are still asking for that size, dealers will handle them and tire manufacturers will make them until the last of these eight or more year old Fords rattles into eternal rest. We would not consider it fair if the manufacturers of the 30 by 3 were to cease by general agreement, thus leaving the old cars on the rims.

“It is inevitable that fewer tire sizes will be made and that car and tire makers will finally reach an understanding.”