§ Mr. Russellasked the Minister of Transport to what extent the risk of tyres bursting has decreased in recent years owing to improvements in manufacture; and what official study has been made of the probable results of a front or rear tyre bursting, respectively, when travelling at 25, 50 and 75 miles an hour on a dry road.
§ Mr. MarplesImprovements in recent years in methods of tyre construction and the introduction of new materials such as rayon, nylon and steel cords have both increased tyre casing strengths and reduced heat build-up in the tyre and thus the risk of failure. Tyre performance is primarily a matter for the manufacturers and I am not aware of any study of tyre bursts under the conditions specified by my hon. Friend. The24W results of tyre bursts, which are now relatively few in number, depend on many factors, including the vehicle and its loading, the maintenance and inflation of the tyre, the layout and condition of the road and the skill of the driver.