Flat Tire Fallout

Things you don’t think about until they show up…

Longtime Tire Review Editor Jim Smith passed away on Feb. 18, 2016. He was 57. With 30 years in the tire and automotive industries, Jim's communications experience included stints as a newspaper reporter and editor, a public relations manager and a variety of creative and management roles with a B2B marketing communications agency. A Kent State University journalism major, Jim served as editor for a number of community newspapers in Northeast Ohio before joining Modern Tire Dealer in 1984. After four years in brand and corporate public relations roles with Bridgestone Americas, Jim joined Nashville's Stumpf Bartels Advertising in 1992. He became Tire Review's editor in October 1999. Jim was honored with the Ed Wagner Tire Industry Leadership Award by the Tire Industry Association in November 2014.

Published: January 31, 2009

Falling housing prices and the really crappy economy has led to a serious increase in flat tires. How is that, you ask?

Local government coffers are coughing up dust, leading to a severe reduction in roadwork budgets. I have seen dozens of stories from coast-to-coast about these fallout problems.

One dealer in Utah claims a 35% jump in pothole-causes flats and busted wheels. It’s so bad in Detroit – like that’s possible right now – that some car swallowing craters won’t be filled until 2011! That’s right…budgets have been cut that far forward, and there is no money until then.

If you have comments to share, send to me at [email protected].

– Jim Smith

Maverick Tire Changer: Bead massage

The bead massage feature on the Maverick tire changer helps with better tire and wheel fitment for balancing.

By Tire Review Staff

Published: April 22, 2024

Joe Keene, automotive content video producer at Babcox Media, speaks with Hunter Engineering service rep Rick Marzen on the bead massage feature on Hunter’s Maverick tire changer — which some OEMs are now recommending for better tire and wheel fitment to help with wheel balancing. This video is sponsored by Hunter Engineering Co.