Oral Testimony

Thank you, Senator Smith, for inviting Smart Tread to testify today on this critically important public safety matter. I would also like to thank (other Oregon members) for being here today. Your interest in tire safety is greatly appreciated in Oregon and throughout the country.

I would like to ask that my written testimony be submitted into the record.

Smart Tread, LLC is a small company in Portland, Oregon founded in May 2003. Smart Tread’s vision is to develop technology and promote ideas that save lives and prevent injuries by improving traffic safety on public roads and highways.

Smart Tread’s mission is to improve traffic safety by helping to remove dangerously worn tires from our public roads and highways. The best method to achieve this goal is the implementation of a system that everyone can easily identify and leaves no ambiguity for the driver or other highway users. One such option would be to use colored rubber within the tire tread to automatically alert the owner when their tires are unsafe. With this system in place, enforcement officials and consumers alike are given the tools to identify and remove from service dangerously worn tires.

With the passage of the TREAD Act in 2000, Congress paved the way to improved road and tire safety. Since the TREAD Act was enacted, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has undertaken a series of rulemaking activities. As we heard earlier from Dr. Runge, NHTSA has completed 11 of 12 final rules. Work on the tire pressure warning system rule is ongoing. Overall, 41 out of the 43 requirements laid out by the TREAD Act have been completed – an enormous success traced back to efforts of the Administration, safety advocates, and tire and auto manufacturers.

Even with all of these improvements, and despite additional educational outreach efforts by the government and industry, over 43,000 people lost their lives and nearly three million people were injured on our nation’s highways last year. The pain and suffering of these families is tremendous and cannot adequately be expressed in words or calculations.

Additionally, the economic cost of this problem is enormous. These injuries and deaths cost over $230 billion or 2.3 percent of the GDP. Moreover, bald tires are 1.5 to 1.8 times more likely to be under-inflated. The cost of under-inflated tires in lost fuel efficiency is in the billions. We are all acutely aware of the need for fuel efficiency as the price of gasoline has soared through out the country.

Tires play a critical role in the safety of drivers and passengers. Tire tread channels water in wet or slushy conditions, enhances traction in snowy conditions, and protects the casing from puncture and a potential tire blow out. Low tire tread is a primary cause of hydroplaning. The tread depth of a typical new tire sold today is 10/32 of an inch. According to a recent Consumer Reports study, a tire with only 5/32 of an inch, or half of its tread, has a measurable decrease in function when driven in rain or snow.

Industry and government efforts to educate the public on tire safety, including monthly checks of tire pressure and tire tread, are extensive. Yet, over half of all drivers cannot identify a wear bar, two out of three drivers do not know how to judge when a tire is bald, and nine percent of vehicles on the road today have at least one bald tire. This failure does not rest with the tire or auto industry or the government. Rather, the problem is human nature. We all lead busy, hectic lives and, unfortunately too many of us and our loved ones do not perform the simple steps it takes to make sure our tires are safe. Government and industry should seek out practical ways to empower consumers to take responsibility for the maintenance of their tires.

Smart Tread’s solution is simple and will be effective. The Smart Tread solution builds a safety message into every tire. If I can turn your attention to the photograph on the easel – by utilizing existing technology, we propose to embed a two color system directly into the tire tread. When the first “warning” color appears, a driver knows to slow down and allow more time for stopping in wet road conditions. Some drivers may even decide to replace their tires at this point. Following this yellow warning, a red ply would be inserted at 2/32 of an inch – the point at which the tire is bald and no longer safe or legal to be on the road.
Smart Tread’s ultimate goal is the same as others here today – to save lives and reduce injuries on our nations roadways. This hearing moves us toward that goal and we are thankful to be here today with this group of transportation professionals and have the opportunity to share our vision with you.

Technological Feasibility Text

The technology exists to create a visually obvious tread wear indicator that empowers consumers and enforcement officials alike.

Michelin currently makes a tire for use on F5 and F16 Fighter jets that includes a red ply to indicate that it is time to replace the tire. BF Goodrich produces a tire they call the “Scorcher.” This boutique tire has tread available in black, yellow, red or blue. In October 2001 JK Tyre of India launched an “eco-friendly” silica radial tire. The tire is called “eco-friendly” because silica lowers rolling resistance, which results in higher fuel efficiency. As part of its branding efforts for this tire, JK Tyre uses green colored tread blocks in the tread.

Clearly, the technology is available to implement this simple safety feature for visually identifying tread wear. Smart Tread has been working with the Akron Rubber Development Lab (ARDL) to build sample tires for visual demonstration and testing. As you have seen in our presentation, tires with embedded color have been produced and initial testing results have demonstrated that tires with the universal tread wear identification system we propose perform as well as current black carbon tires. Of course, more study is needed and Smart Tread will work closely with NHTSA and the industry to ensure that the highest standards are met.