Bowie, Md. - The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has released another consumer education video in the Tire Safety Starts with… series. Tire Safety Starts with Inspection covers the regular inspection procedures that motorists should follow to check their tires for sufficient tread depth and irregular wear. The video also includes animation that explains pinch shock, which causes a bulge to appear on the sidewall of the tire after striking a pothole, curb or road hazard.
“After a particularly harsh winter for most of the country, road crews will be working all summer to repair the potholes so most dealers are seeing an increase in the number of tires damaged by road hazards,” remarked Ken Brown, TIA President. “This video will definitely help retailers explain what causes the bulge on the sidewall and why the tire must be replaced.”
Tire Safety Starts with Inspection is primarily focused on tread depth and teaches drivers to look for the treadwear indicators (or wear bars) in the grooves when inspecting their tires. The video includes examples of tires with insufficient tread depth and shows how the wear bars make them easy to identify. It also covers some of the causes of irregular treadwear and emphasizes the importance of proper inflation pressure.
“Motorists don’t need to look for spare change when checking the tread depth of their tires because the treadwear indicators are required by law,” said Kevin Rohlwing, TIA Senior Vice President of Training. “If the driver knows what to look for, then a simple tread depth check only takes a couple of seconds. This video makes it easy to understand so anyone can visually inspect their tires for proper tread depth.”
Tire Safety Starts with Inspection is available on TIA’s YouTube channel, and the consumer safety section of the Association’s website. Retailers are encouraged to provide a link to the video or contact Donna Sage, TIA Director of Marketing and Communications, at dsage@tireindustry.org for a free download.