That said, I've noticed something about newer rubber, as have some people I work with.  It just doesn't seem to have the same rubber content as the older stuff and doesn't seem to retain it's integrity nearly as long as older rubber did.  I don't know what happened, I don't know if the US won't let them use certain chemicals in US bound rubber produts, but it just doesn't seem the same anymore.

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree rex   

have to tell ya, gates are way better than goodyear belts and hoses.

this is not just because of where I work. i've seen goodyear stuff come in with a brand new sticker blown to hell.