BANGKOK – Finance Minister KornChatikavanij warned today that the Kingdom was facing a severe shortage of cheap, used tires following the red-shirted protests.

Fires set by the UDD since May 15^th are estimated to have destroyed up to 7.5 million quality used tires that are normally circulated throughout Thailand’s extensive discount auto-parts market. It is feared that  forcing mass-market car an pickup truck owners to buy new tires may cause a recession in other consumer spending.

“With no more old tires, motorists will be forced to buy new ones, which can cost up to Bt20,000 for a set of four,” Korn said at a press conference. “That’s a lot of money.”

Korn called on B-Quick, Eagle Tire Store, and Goodyear Center to help alleviate the crisis by offering special promotional prices for the near future. He also encouraged Bangkok residents to try taking public transportation more often.

“The BTS should be open again soon,” he said. “Once they put out the burning tire fire inside Chitlom station.”