The National Safe Tire Coalition advocates the standardization of visual tread wear indicators. We seek to make our roads safer through implementation of this simple concept.

The Problem

People do not know when they are driving on unsafe tires.

• Two out of three drivers do not know how to tell if their tires are bald, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
• Nearly one in 10 vehicles on our roads today is driving with at least one bald (2/32” of tread remaining) tire, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. With more than 230 million registered vehicles in the United States, that means nearly 23 million cars are driving with one bald tire.
• Worn tire tread can lead to tragic tire blow-out and hydroplaning accidents.

The Opportunity

Safety is a major factor considered by the American public when purchasing an automobile.

• A Harris Poll (2001) found 78 percent of Americans would pay more money for a vehicle with improved safety systems.

The Solution

The technology exists to create a simple, standardized visually obvious tread wear indicator so people will know when their tire tread is unsafe.

• The color technology that makes this visual tread wear detection system possible is already being used on boutique tires.
• Michelin and Good Year make tires with a similar color safety system for F-5 and F-16 fighter jets.
• This visual tread wear detection system could easily be applied to all tires, providing information to drivers about the safety of their tires. For example:
• 4/32 of an inch of remaining tread – yellow shows
• 2/32 of an inch of remaining tread – red shows

The Outcome

Our roads will be safer, lives will be saved and injuries will be reduced if this simple concept can be made available to all drivers.

• Our families will be safer.
• Consumers will be educated and empowered to know when their tire tread is unsafe.
• Fewer accidents and blowouts will result in a decrease in costs for the insurance and medical industries, as well as to state budgets that pay for accident response, clean-up and road repair.
• Our industries will save money as traffic jams due to tire blowout accidents decrease and freight is able to move more efficiently on our roads.