NTSB Symposium To Address Tire Safety Issues

The National Transportation Safety Board will host a symposium over two days in December to gather information and expert opinion on the causes of tire disablement, the role of safety recalls and consumer awareness, ongoing safety-related initiatives, and advances in tire technology. The symposium, which is free and open to the public, convenes Dec. 9–10 in Washington, D.C.

The symposium will be chaired by NTSB Board Member Earl Weener and invited subject matter experts will present on safety issues at panels. Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president of public affairs, said representatives from RMA will be participating in three different panels. Additionally, Kevin Rohlwing, TIA’s senior vice president of training, will participate.

Presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer period to allow NTSB staff to follow up on points made during the presentations and take other tire safety topics into consideration.
The symposium panels will include:

•   Tire Disablement and Vehicle Dynamics
•   Identifying and Analyzing Tire Disablement-related Crashes
•   Tire Registration and Recall
•   Tire Aging and Service Life
•   Advances in Tire Technology
•   Tire Maintenance and Consumer Awareness

According to the NTSB, the primary focus is on passenger vehicle and light truck tires, although many issues apply to all pneumatic tires. The NTSB will publish a transcript of the symposium, and said that it may use information gathered from the symposium to develop safety recommendations that, if implemented, could reduce the incidence of tire disablement-related crashes.

The public can view the symposium in person or by live webcast on the NTSB’s website.

The symposium will be hosted at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, located at 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. No preregistration is required.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."