Cheaper Tires

Tire prices were fixed just before Jan. 1 at about 40% higher than prevailed last summer. Last week two large manufacturers announced reductions. The list of the United States Rubber & Tire Co. dropped 10% on first line tires, 3 1/2% to 7 1/2% on second line makes. President Harvey Firestone of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. ordered a 5% to 12% abatement in his first line prices as of Feb. 1.