| How far along has tire pressure monitoring come | | | | which contained the accident were a factor in the |
| recently? Well it is making significant strides in the | | | | event itself.Some shop owners have asked me why |
| transportation industries for a variety of reasons; | | | | should I get involved with tire pressures because I |
| reducing fuel costs, safety and insurance savings, | | | | might be sued (again the issue of our over litigated |
| regulations stemming from the Firestone Affair in the | | | | society, causing friction when you go to help your |
| SUV market and lobbying from consumer groups. The | | | | fellow man or customer?) if I put air in and someone |
| DOT has looked into these issues for passenger cars | | | | has an accident and they determine that on a dirt road |
| and the Tire Industry has had mixed emotions for a | | | | the car had too much air in the tires for that condition, |
| reason, often stating that the best thing to do is to | | | | when I put the additional air in because the dad said he |
| educate consumers about tire pressure.A recent | | | | was taking his family on a road trip to Colorado or |
| survey during Car Care Aware Week showed that | | | | Kansas for four days? I understand this comment and |
| 54% of all cars had one or more tires, which were low | | | | fear from lawsuits and admit that there are too many |
| on air, thus causing excessive wear, stability issues and | | | | attorneys in the world, especially here in the States. |
| poor fuel efficiencies. This was an interesting case in | | | | But as a Car Care Professional you can prevent |
| fact. We see this all the time when we service our | | | | accidents and help people. This same comment about |
| customers cars. During this same study it was found | | | | lawyers is what the tire industry is fearing.The tire |
| that only 14% of the cars had one or more tires that | | | | pressure issue was over turned by the NHTSA but |
| needed tread and were worn out. It would behoove | | | | expect it to come back stronger next time as |
| those in the car care industry to check tires as a | | | | consumer groups and politicians judging the wind flow |
| courtesy for customers.Jiffy Lube and other | | | | see the political advantage of caving into such |
| companies do this already as part of a multi-point | | | | demands, which indeed will open the tire industry to |
| check list. We believe that soon all over the road | | | | more class action lawsuits.The RMA Rubber |
| trucks will have some sort of low-pressure indicator | | | | Manufacturers Association wants to fight PSI level |
| either inside the cab or out side. Some already have | | | | definitions, because it is not a one size fits all. Many |
| sensors, which light up on the dash-board and along | | | | things go into deciding proper inflation and PSI levels |
| with GPS navigation which already indicates truck | | | | depending on such things: snow handling, wet & dry |
| stops and repair stations which have tire shops or Tire | | | | braking, braking & traction requirements, stopping |
| chucks with air hoses. Recently we discussed the | | | | distances, rolling resistance, fuel economy, noise, |
| issues with Large Passenger van rollovers and the | | | | vibration, harmonics, comfort of ride, uniformity of tread |
| NTSB did a huge study showing these vans to be | | | | ware, balance, cornering capabilities, , rotation interval |
| unsafe, yet many of the problems stemmed from low | | | | specs, endurance ratings, tread ware tests, high speed |
| air pressures and poor loading in rear or on top. Once | | | | performance, residual alignment torque, ease of |
| again issues of tires were the biggest. Under rated | | | | mounting on production equipment, etc. You can see |
| tires for the load or under inflated tires during the trip | | | | the issues manufacturers have with this. |