We all know it's important to have good tires. Federal law requires vehicles built today to be able to monitor tire pressure. But what about how worn those tires are?
Do you know when they should be replaced? Now there is new, but controversial technology to help remind you.
Petya Papazova found out the tires on her car needed to be replaced when a van in front of her suddenly stopped.
"There was probably about a distance of 50 feet, and I just could not stop the car," Papazova said. "The truth is I never changed the tires for four years. But there was no rule or an indicator to tell me that, they were due for a change."
In fact, all tires in the U.S. are required to have something called "tread wear indicators."
"Once your tire wears evenly with those tread wear indicators, you know that your tire is bald and it needs to be replaced," said Dan Zielinski, of the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
Petya admits that she did not know those indicator marks existed. She is not alone.
"About two-thirds of the people don't even know that those are in there," said Nick Hodel of Tire Performance Indicators.
That means a lot of people are having a hard time keeping track of our tires.
Dan Zielinski said, "We did a study that found about 13% of vehicles on the road had at least one bald tire."
Now, there is new technology to help make it clear that it's time to change your tires. One includes rubber that changes color.
"When your tire wears out, you see this vibrant color, red or orange or, or some other color," said Zielinski.
There is also an indicator stud that sends a signal.
"Green you're good. When you see yellow, it's a caution, it's time to think about replacing those tires, and if you see red you should be replacing the tires," Hodel said.
The Rubber manufacturers Association says it's ultimately up to tire makers to get these color-changing tires on the road.
"They're the ones that have to build the tire, that have to meet all rigorous federal safety performance standards. And, it also has to be marketable. You put a strip of colored rubber into the tire that very much broadcasts the condition of your tire. If consumers don't buy that product, it's not going to help anybody anywhere, " said Zielinski.
Testing on the studs is now underway in Japan and they are already being used on the Icon Tires brand sold in Canada.
"By having these indicators in their tires they're empowered to make these decisions themselves, before a catastrophic result occurs," said Pat O'Brien of Icon Tires.
A new tires will stop at about 190 feet. A worn tire will stop at about 379 feet, which can mean the difference between life and death.
