With all eyes on paradigm-shifting automotive technologies, itis easy to forget that even the most technologically advanced motorvehicles must rely on the humble rubber tire in order to move.Sure, we may face a future of wheel-less, magnet-empowered hoveringcars, but in the meantime, there are operating facts you shouldknow about the steel-belted radial tire that will enhance travel inincreasingly sophisticated automobiles.

The more automation separates us from the driving act, the lessattention we pay to our machinery, leaving us vulnerable tooverlooking failure signs in vehicle components that cannot beautomatically tracked by onboard microprocessors.

Since 2008, all new vehicle models have tire pressure monitoringsensors (TPMS) as standard equipment, but that self-diagnostic tooldelivers only a partial tire health check. Beyond tire inflationissues, durability is the overarching concern because it correlatesto the miles driven, road conditions met in use, climate, storage,and tire age. The key to noticing incipient rubber oxidation andother signs of deterioration is regular visual examination.