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
Waste tires due to the presence of fillers, steel cord, organic, and inorganic components, is a major environments concern. Different agencies in the world are now recycling waste tires and other rubber goods into useful products instead of polluting the environment. In 2010 the Newfoundland and Labrador Government proposed that all waste tires in the province be shipped to Corner Brook to be burned and used as fuel. This was quickly delayed and further denied. A stock pile of waste tires that reached 1.9 million tires in 2010 was a major environmental headache for the government. Environment Minister Ross Wiseman said the