Survey shows many US motorists have bald tyres

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Washington, DC -- A US Rubber Manufacturers Association survey showed 11 percent of motorists have at least one bald tyre, the RMA said.

The RMA revealed its conclusions after a survey of more than 7,000 vehicles. AAA estimates that 33.2 million vehicles will be on the road during the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, and interpolating from the survey results, as many as 4 million of them could have at least one bald tyre, putting them at risk for blowouts or wet-road hydroplaning, the association said.

Of the motorists polled in the survey, 9 percent never had their tyre tread depth checked and 64 percent didn't know how to do it themselves. The “penny test”-inserting a penny with Lincoln's head upside down into a tyre tread-is still the best quick way to test tread depth, according to the RMA. If Lincoln's head is entirely visible, it's time to buy a new tyre, the association said.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)