It’s at the forefront of the tires we engineer that enable mobility and protect drivers, passengers and cargo on the road. And it’s at the forefront of programs we establish to ensure the well-being of our employees and the safety of the communities in which we operate.
Tire manufacturers are always in pursuit of excellence by inventing new ways to design and engineer tires. That's why tires today are much safer and better performing than the tires of just a couple decades ago. With thousands of scientists and engineers at work developing tomorrow's tires, our focus is on driving road safety forward.
Pressure, tread, rotation, alignment—these are the top four when it comes to ongoing tire maintenance. Spending a little time on these essentials every month and every few thousand miles will help your tires keep you safe.
Reputable tire and auto repair shops across America follow the meticulous repair standards set by USTMA. Get more information about these standards and recommended repair procedures with downloadable resources.
Size, speed rating, load index—there’s a lot to consider when replacing your tires. USTMA shows you how to make the right decision for optimum safety, performance, comfort and fuel efficiency.
Registering your tires takes just a few minutes—and plays a big role in keeping you safe, because manufacturers use your tire registration to contact you in the event of a recall.
Remember to register your tires after purchase by mail or online so the manufacturer can notify you in the event of a recall.
In most cases, no. Most people drive enough miles every year that their tires will need to be replaced before age becomes an issue. But there are a couple of important cases we want you to know about where age can be more a factor than mileage.
In these vehicles, the tire’s age is more important, since tread wear will not tell you when it’s time for new tires. In these cases, we recommend that you follow your tire manufacturer’s tire service life guidelines.
Please keep in mind that a tire or vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation is not a guarantee or indication of the minimum serviceable life for your tire.
Each tire sold in the United States has a special set of letters and numbers, called the Tire Identification Number (sometimes called the tire’s TIN) on its sidewall. The TIN starts with the letters “DOT.”
The last four numbers indicate the week and year when your tire was manufactured – the first two of these numbers stand of the week of manufacture (01 through 52 or 53), and the last two stand for what year your tire was made for any tire made in 2000 or later.
Your tires are highly engineered for safety, performance and endurance, constructed from various materials, including rubber.
Each of the components has performance properties that are essential to the proper functioning of the tire, and how those properties evolve depends on a combination of time, storage conditions and conditions of use – such as inflation pressure, load, speed, temperature, impacts and road hazard injury. Probably the single most important factor is how the tire is maintained once it’s installed on a vehicle.
You play a key role in the regular care and maintenance of your tires. USTMA recommends that you inspect regularly all tires installed on your vehicles, including spares.
During monthly maintenance inspections, focus on proper inflation pressure, tread wear and tire damage. This inspection is important even if your vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system. Check out our USTMA tire care tips.
If you find a tire condition that concerns you during your monthly inspection, please seek the advice of a tire professional immediately, using your temporary spare or other emergency service if necessary to ensure your safety. Supplement your own monthly inspections with periodic, regular professional tire care.
This includes tire inspection, tire rotation, wheel balancing and vehicle alignment services. Please ask your tire professional to regularly assess the condition of your tires to determine if there are any tactile or visual signs of damage that make replacement necessary.
When you’re driving, you should be aware not only of your tires’ visual condition but also of any change in dynamic performance, such as increased air loss, noise or vibration.
Noticeable changes like that could be an indication of an internal condition that could cause a tire to fail. In these cases, USTMA recommends consumers immediately consult a tire service professional to inspect the tire and determine if it needs to be removed for replacement or safe repair.
Always store your tires (whether mounted on a rim or not) in a clean, dry, cool, well-ventilated place to prevent damage to due to heat, sunlight or chemicals.
Don’t store tires in exposed outdoor areas or areas that are dirty, wet, poorly ventilated, or subject to extremely hot or cold temperatures or direct sunlight.
The compounds in tires can also be damaged by exposure to petroleum-based products (such as gasoline or oil), or other volatile or corrosive solvents/substances, and shouldn’t be kept in the same area as electric motors, battery chargers, generators, welding equipment, or other ozone-generating sources.
USTMA recognizes three essential pillars of sustainability: safety, environment, and economic impact. In addition to creating safe products and workplaces, explore how USTMA members embrace sustainable mobility of the future, employ innovation and drive the U.S. economic engine.
USTMA members demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship throughout a tire’s life cycle and seek out opportunities for continuous improvement.
The tire manufacturing industry brings jobs and investment to the U.S. economy and supports more than 250,000 U.S. jobs totaling almost $20 billion in wages across our supply chain.
Tire manufacturers are always in pursuit of excellence by inventing new ways to design and engineer tires. That's why tires today are much safer and better performing than the tires of just a couple decades ago.
