Tires: Tire Manufacture, passenger car tire, rubber manufacturers association

Question
Dear Barry,
I am a Mechanical Engineering student studying in Australia sitting a unit
called Engineering Sustainable Development. We have been asked to chose a
product (passenger car tire) and create a life cycle (already been done). Our
next task is to chose a stage in this life cycle (manufacturing) and apply
cleaner production strategies to this stage. A part of this includes providing
quantitative inputs and outputs for the manufacturing stage of tires.
It is easy enough to determine the most commonly used processes for tire
manufacture but everyone seems somewhat guarded about the quantities and
amounts of raw materials (inputs) and outputs (understandably).
Was just hoping you may be able to shed a little light on the subject as we
are allowed to use reasonable assumptions.
Thank you,
Erika.

Answer
Erika,

There are a couple of resources you might draw upon.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association, commonly referred to as the RMA.  They are a US based organization of folks who produce products made out of rubber - and that inculdes tires.  They have lots of statistical information and they probably have generalized statisitcs about inputs and outputs - particularly, how many tires are produced and consumed in the US.  Their web site is www.rma.org.

There just might be a similar organization in Australia.

Also, you might try asking the tire standardizing organization in Australia - The Tyre and Rim Association of Australia.  Suite 1, Hawthorne House, 795 Glenferrie rd. Hawthorne, Victoria 3122 Austalia.  While they might not be able to supply what you are looking for, they might be able to direct you to someone like the RMA.

Good Luck.