NTSB says at least 500 crash deaths per year are linked to tire problems
The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday the U.S. system for tire registration is ineffective and called for mandatory tire registration, saying that at least 500 crash deaths a year are linked to tire problems.
Unlike car recalls, tire recalls face many problems. Independent tire dealers are not required to register tires on buyers behalf – and tire makers can’t contact those drivers if their tires need to be recalled.
The NTSB called for a “computerized system for capturing, storing, and uploading tire registration information that would expedite the tire registration process, reduce transcription errors, and encourage more dealers to register tires at the point of sale.”
The NTSB also said “modifying the tire registration form to include fields for the purchaser’s e-mail address, telephone number, and vehicle identification number would provide additional means by which tire manufacturers could notify tire owners of recalls and recover more recalled tires that would otherwise continue in use.”
Tires should also have a complete tire identification number “on both sides of a tire that would help consumers to accurately identify a recalled tire and to conduct maintenance as necessary and appropriate to the tire.”
As a result, tire recalls often get as little as 20 percent completion compared with 75 percent for most vehicle recalls.
You can register your tires at the following websites:
