Budd–Michelin rubber-tired rail cars which featured innovative and distinctive pneumatic tires. The company claimed that its application of tires on its rail cars afforded both a substantially more cushioned ride and increased the cars' traction by 35%. The design of Michelin's tired wheels included an aluminum safety ring and a flange that were only used in the event of a puncture or other type of tire failure; during normal operation, only the rubber tire made contact with the rail. Inspired by Michelin's success, the Budd Company set its sights on marrying the new rubber rail tires with its shot-welded, stainless-steel carbodies; it had developed
Nankang Rubber Tire Nankang Rubber Tire Nankang Rubber Tire Corp., Ltd. () manufactures automobile tires and other synthetic rubber products. The company's products include locomotive tires, and tires for light trucks, sedan cars, sport utility vehicles and snowfield-use vehicles. During the year ended 31 December 2006, the company obtained approximately 99% of its total revenue from the automobile tires business. In 2006, the company obtained approximately 35% and 32% of its total revenue from the Americas and Europe, respectively. Nankang Rubber Tire Corporation Ltd is the longest established tire manufacturer in Taiwan, having been started in 1940 by a group of engineers. Based