Re: cush drive buffers
As I tried to say, I'm pretty happy with the endurance of multi-layer fiber re-enforced 1/4" thick rock conveyor belt and have enough to service mine for next decade, so hadn't considered old tires treads or side walls. I don't think it takes much compliance to protect for what ever it can, just as long as not the shock loads of metal to metal all the way back to the push rods impulses.
Personally, going by reports of non issue on serous long term racers and others w/o any cushion in drive train, the main concern is to take up drive train slack paddles w/o pads would give. I don't yet know if Its my routine slow lugging chugging or my routine almost red line shifts to get to speed entering hwy up a steep with a near by blind traffic can shoot around at full speed any time.