THE TIRE INDUSTRY IN THE SINO-SOVIET BLOC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00328A000100440004-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 25, 1998
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 30, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP62-00328A000100440009q
Qc/ T /
THE TIRE INDUSTRY IN THE SING-SOVIET BLOC
I. Pneumatic Tire Casings
A. Sino-Soviet Bloc Supply Position
The USSR and the other industrial countries in the SinoiSoviet Bloc
produce all types of pneumatic tires, ranging from scooter and motorcycle
sizes up to large tires needed for aircraft, heavy trucks, and earthmovers..
In 1957 the total Sino-Soviet Bloc production, including aircraft and
motorcycle tires, was more than 20 million units, an increase of 94 percent
over 1950 production. In spite of this increase, there still exists a
deficit of tires within the Bloc as a whole. if In order to overcome this
deficiency, Bloc plans call for a 50-percent increase in production in
1960 above that in 1957. Production of motor vehicles in recent years
has been increasing at an average rate of about 6 percent, and, apart from
China, there is no indication of efforts to boost that rate of growth.
Table 1 attached shows the breakdown of production by countries as well
as their calculated requirements based on the estimated motor park and
production of motor vehicles.
Approved For Release 2000/08 ? J -RDP62-00328A000100440004-4
 f n
Approved For Release 2000/08SEUIELRDP62-00328A000100440004-4
Outside the USSR, tire production appears more than adequate to meet
domestic requirements; however, a serious tire shortage appears to exist
within the USSR. This condition is due primarily to the low quality of
the tires produced. It is estimated that the average Soviet motor vehicle
travels 28,000 kilometers annually. Soviet tires have an average useful
life of about 30,000 kilometers. Thus,, the entire motor park must be
re-equipped with new tires every year. Both Poland and the USSR have
announced the objective of increasing the average tire mileage from
30,,000 kilometers to 40,000 kilometers by 1960. The Soviets have esti-
mated that an increase of 10 percent in tire life would save 50 million
rubles a year for every million tires in use, and Ni. Khrushchev, in his
recent report to the Party Central Committee on the expansion of the
chemical industry said, "Synthetic fibers are also extremely important in
industry. Thus, the use of capron cord instead of cotton or rayon, cord
in the manufacture of tires reduces the expenditure of rubber by 15 percent
and at the same time increases the life of the tires by 30 to 140 percent*"
It '.it?As estimated that at least 80 percent of the tires made in the USSR
Approved For Release 2000/0 n&L-RDP62-00328A000100440004-4
 Approved For Release 2000/08/ SEW
are in the larger sizes suitable for trucks. Tire production in the
Satellites is believed to be approximately two-thirds for trucks and
one-third for passenger cars.
No statistics are available on the use pattern of tires within the
Bloc. An approximate estimate assigns 55 percent to trucks, 25 percent
to direct military use, and the balance of 20 percent to busses, passenger
cars, and other civilian uses. No figures are published on the production
of tires by sizes or types, and even if these were available, the military
and non-military consumption could be only roughly estimated. Obviously
aircraft, passenger cars, motorcycles, and trucks are used by both the
military and civilians. Earthmovers and similar types of heavy equipment
in many cases take the same sizes of tires as some field guns. In short,
most sizes of tires have both military and civilian applications. Tractors?
motorcycles, and aircraft probably require less than 10 percent of the
AMMEJOCUM consumed in the Blocs
This estimate is based on the number of vehicles of these types produced
3
Approved For Release 2000/OPJ L 1 -RDP62-00328A000100440004-4
 Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP62-00328A000100440004-4
SECRET.
and in use. These categories are not included in the statistics given
in Table 1 -- hence, the deficit shown in that table can be considered to
be a minimum figure.
B. Trade
Trade in motor vehicle tires between the Sino-Soviet Bloc and the Free
World is relatively insignificant. Imports by the Bloc in 1956 were valued
at about $5 millions and exports were equally *odest. Czechoslovakia has
a substantial number of tires available for export and during the past few
years has attempted to develop a market in Turkey and South America.
However, the quality has been so inferior that buyers have demanded
refunds. Soviet tires on equipment shipped to Afghanistan were said to fail
after 500 to 2,000 miles of service. Communist China shipped some 30,000
tires to Ceylon in 1957 as partial payment for goods received. Figures on
shipments by individual countries are too fragmentary to establish a pattern.
Bloc wheeled equipment sent to foreign countries is supplied with Bloc-
made tires, but in general it appears that their reputation for inferior
quality has made potential customers cautious.
Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CI -RDP62-00328A000100440004-4
 Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : R .. J 62-00328A000100440004-4
R~
C. Quality
Apart from the obsolete tire-making machinery and equipment 2/j. the
inferior quality of Bloc.tires is attributable largely to the inferior
components used in production.
1. Rubber - Generally speaking,, the Bloc has sufficient supplies
of rubber, both synthetic and natural, to build tires of satisfactory
quality. The kinds of rubber used varies in different countries. For
instance, China uses natural rubber exclusively, and East Germany uses
only 20 percent or even less of natural rubber in making tires.
Tire Cord probably is the principal factor in tire life. In the
USSR it has been estimated that one-half of all tire failures are due to
mechanical deficiencies such as blow-outs, tread separation, etc. About
two-thirds of Soviet tires are made with cotton cord, the remainder pre-
dominently with rayon cord. The limited amounts of nylon cord available
are used for aircraft tires. China's tires are all made with cotton cord,
mile East German and Czechoslovak tires are principally made with rayon
cord. Cotton cord rates the poorest from the point of view of resistance
2/ For detailed comments on tire-making machinery in the Sino-Spuiet Bloc,
'sea Section II below, page _.
5
Approved For Release 2000/08/22 Sie P62-00328A000100440004-4
 'Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP62-00328A000100440004-4
SECRET
to heat and overloading of tires. Rayon is better than cotton and also
has a higher tensile strength, whereas nylon is the best material for tire
cord which has been found to date.
Carbon Black also is an important factor in the life of tires.
This is particularly true of tires containing synthetic tubber. The Sino?.
Soviet Bloc has adequate supplies of carbon black. Its quality, however,,
cannot be compared with the new types of "high abrasion" blacks which
have been developed in the US since World War II. The latter will add
from 25 to 40 percent more mileage to the life of a tire. The Soviets
have made, and are continuing to make, efforts to acquire the technology
of "know-how" for making these types of black, so far without success.
The US companies which have developed their own processes for making high-
abrasion blacks do not wish to part with their "trade secrets."
4. Beadw-Ire is important, as it serves to hold the tires to the
wheel-rims. The Communist countries follow US practice, except.their
tire is plated with zinc instead of copper or bronze. Bloc supplies of
high-tonsils wire are ample for their tire needs.
Approved For Release 2000/08/22 :S- P62-00328A000100440004-4
 Approved For Release 2000/08/22 :;,f?62-00328A000100440004-4
5. Rubber Chemicals - Chemicals needed for compounding rubber appear
to be in adequate supply for their requirements.
U. Plans for Expansion
All of the countries in the Bloc have planned expansion of their tire
output by 1960. The USSR, where the most severe shortage exists, plans
an increase of about 60 percent in the 3 years? and a further increase of
35 percent by 1965 above 1960 production. In order to attain these goals?
Khrushchev has indicated that it will be necessary to import modern equip-
ment and technology from the West.. The first of these modern plants is
being built by the UK and will have a capacity of 2 million tires per years
80 percent of which will be large sizes for trucks and military vehicles.
The Russians have indicated that they expect to build five such plants,
although it is probable that they hope to obtain much of the necessary
machinery from outside the Bloc. In the 2-year trade agreement between
the USSR and Fiance the latter agreed to furnish 50 tiremolding presses
to the USSR in 1957 and 50 more in 1958? These presses could add a half-
million tires to Sofiet production capacity.
Approved For Release 2000/08/28E8 DP62-00328A000100440004-4