Caltrans needed a way to build an off ramp embankment on a foundation of 30 feet of mud from San Francisco Bay, a weak layer of soil that cannot support heavy structures, without it settling or sinking unevenly over time - so they innovated - and used 6,627 tons of shredded tires (thank you George!)

Caltrans chose the tire aggregate: it weighed about 50 pounds per cubic foot, lighter than the roughly 60-pound alternative, and cheaper too. Tire-derived aggregate is made by shredding used tires into pieces a few inches across that can replace gravel, rock, or soil in construction projects.

the finished embankment is roughly 26 feet tall, 700 feet long, and 50 feet wide. 

Dr. DingXin Cheng of California State University, Chico, who documented the project for a CalRecycle usage guide, calls it the first embankment project where Caltrans used shredded tires this way, and notes that the same layered approach became standard practice on later projects of this kind.

The main goal behind using shredded tires was reducing stress on the fragile bay mud, and the numbers back that up. The built embankment put pressure of 2,250 pounds per square foot on the foundation ground. By comparison, a similar earth-filled embankment would have exerted 3,750 pounds per square foot

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/in-2000-california-packed-6627-tons-of-shredded-tires-beneath-dixon-landing-road-the-lightweight-fill-saved-an-estimated-477000/articleshow/133702443.cms

So, since shredded used tires have proven to be really good for something, why are landfills still full of them, instead of them being shredded and preventing mosquitos from having a  place to create many more generations of blood thirsty skeeters? 

I wonder, was this a mobile recap rig?

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=27884561584549652&set=gm.1844107550198396&idorvanity=226675368608297

good use for a worn out tire

video at https://www.facebook.com/reel/1552632066266928

device for mounting motorcycle tires, on the trail

from 2:23 to 2:33 on this video

lol

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=27465330466430745&set=gm.3411758385664408&idorvanity=132380976935515

a significant portion of the tires currently sold in California will now be forbidden starting in 2029 by a California Energy Commission new rule about rolling resistance (not that any paycheck to paycheck blue collar type asked anyone in Sacramento to outlaw cheap tires) (Thank you Doug!)

The first phase would begin in 2029, which would allow the sale of tires with a maximum rolling resistance level of 9.1 newtons per kilonewton (N/kN). In phase 2, the standard lowers to 7.2 (N/kN) starting in 2033. The commission came up with the standards after testing 537 types of tires. 

The regulations, the commission says, will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2m metric tons per year, equivalent to taking roughly 400,000 gasoline cars off the roads.

 The CEC claims Californians could save $79 in four months in gas or electricity costs under phase 1, and about $153 in phase 2 within seven months. 

 "These regulations are a tool within our authority that can save money for every Californian," said Commissioner Nancy Skinner.

other industry groups and manufacturers objected to the regulations in an April letter, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, including Goodyear, Yokohama and the California Tire Dealers Association. The letter said the cost of replacement tires would increase by roughly $6 to $10 per tire, with the industry leaders rejecting the state’s arguments that fuel savings would outweigh those costs.

The groups raised concerns about the standards in phase two of the regulations, arguing that the tires mandated under those stricter rules, which would begin in 2033, are “typically priced hundreds of dollars more per set than baseline alternatives”.

https://www.kcra.com/article/california-energy-commission-tire-efficiency-rules/73456508

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/us/california-tires-energy-efficient-standards.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/19/california-replacement-tires

I'll speculate that this instantly makes soft compound higher traction tires that street racers prefer, illegal in California, and that the sale of these simply transfers to Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon ... because getting them delivered by Summit or Amazon is likely to be a waste of money for anyone who does an annual or semi annual trip to SEMA (who? Me?)

Sure would be interesting if they did something to LOWER the costs of what drivers need.... gas, cars, tires... or FIXED the damn potholes, SMOOTHED the freeways (big grinders that EVEN the surface of the freeways) but UFOs, ghosts, and religions will be proven real, before the city state or federal govt does a single damn thing that pleases a majority of regular people (not the Karens and Carls)

You know you've made it when Firestone not only supplies you with tires, but they also come with your name on them. Sox & Martin at the 1971 NHRA Springnats (Parnelli also had signature series Firestones)

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122150881202640485&set=a.122101740776640485

https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2024/06/parnelli-died-today-last-of-bullring.html

Cost to build a Goodyear tire in the USA... about 87.00. Cost for the Chinese competitor? 12 dollars.

 and that would possibly be a reason Goodyear has lost 2 billion dollars in the last 5 business quarter years

https://www.thedrive.com/news/goodyear-cant-make-a-tire-for-12-like-china-heres-its-plan

California is trying to regulate tire rolling resistance to reduce statewide fuel consumption, and it could limit enthusiast tire choices.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) wants to introduce a law that sets a minimum tire rolling resistance target to help save a claimed $1 billion in extra fuel costs experienced by drivers.

Basically, California is trying to set the performance standard for aftermarket tires, which can change almost everything, especially for enthusiasts who use inefficient but grippy high-performance tires.

the CEC wants all tires to meet or exceed the standards of Original Equipment (OE) tires, which are the tires that come with the car when it's brand new.

https://www.motor1.com/news/797503/california-tire-rolling-resistance-rules/

unusual front tire situation... is that a wire cage to prevent problems, or improve traction for steering?

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122255898890905122&set=a.122255623292905122

it's amazing someone found this unused Firestone Hi-Type Cushion 32 X 3

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10243765926393474&set=gm.10162820245312481&idorvanity=119087132480

very COOL game of chance for car events! Thank you Nitto for this !!

this is brilliant, new tire tech automatically deploys and retracts studs depending on temperature. The Hakkapeliitta 01 tire has a new temperature-sensitive compound that deploys and retracts studs

When the road surface is warm enough, the studs, which themselves have been redesigned specifically for this tire, sit back beneath the surface of the rubber. As the road surface gets colder—like, tire-in-contact-with-ice cold—they push out. Nokian says it’s been working on this technology since 2014, around the time it debuted a concept tire that deployed studs with the press of a button. Other startups had attempted to deliver such products, but they never arrived.

The key is what the company calls an “adaptive base compound.” This is the material that the studs sit in, and it’s sensitive to temperature—becoming rock-solid when cold, and softer and more pliable when warm.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/nokians-new-tire-has-studs-that-magically-retract-when-its-warm

I just learned that occasionally, Goodyear has a special selling event

And my justification for posting blimps, is that they have one wheel, and now you can buy them!

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/signature-shop/vault/collectibles

loving this bird, and the love Goodyear showed this owner (Amelia Hartford)... with a souvenir wheel and it's own display case (wow!)

This would be an epic boutique gift business for Goodyear to get a spin off entity doing. 

if you are reading this, back up for burnout

https://moparinsiders.com/emelia-hartfords-1970-plymouth-superbird-soars-past-210-mph/

west coast fishers and conservationists allege that a chemical additive used in tires is polluting rivers and waterways, killing coho salmon and other fish.

The case was initiated after the apparent solving of a decades-old mystery: what was causing mass deaths of endangered coho salmon in the Pacific north-west as they returned to streams to spawn. The deaths happened after heavy rain.

Scientists, suspecting storm runoff, described the phenomenon as “urban runoff mortality syndrome”.

It took years for scientists from Washington State University to pinpoint what they now allege is the chemical culprit. In 2020, they published a study in Science that claimed to solve the mystery: they found a toxic substance in leachate from car tyres that killed the fish. Known as 6PPD-quinone or 6PPD-q, it is an oxidation product from 6PPD, a chemical added to car tyres to prevent them breaking down.

The judge will determine whether the tyre manufacturers are violating the Endangered Species Act by harming fish species, including coho salmon, protected under the legislation.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/02/is-tyre-pollution-causing-mass-deaths-in-vulnerable-salmon-populations

I'm sure you're away that tires wear away, and that's evident by them going bald, and the amount of tire that disappears, is ground off by the asphalt and concrete that we drive on, plus sand and gravel. Every time it rains, all the tire dust is washed away, and heads down the roads, sidewalks, yards, ditches, culverts, streams, and then accumulating amounts are then hitting the rivers 

The new GTP Pilot Sport Endurance tires on the cars competing in the GTP class look a bit different. The tread pattern is the talking point to get free publicity for the 50% recycled material tires factoid, which is interesting.

The texture is called the “Vision” pattern and it is designed to help with initial warmup, since the cars of IMSA do not utilize tire warmers. 

Previously, it could take multiple laps to get the tires up to full operating temperature

These new GTP treads are composed of 50% recycled or renewable material, but last just as long during hard driving stints, including the double stints that often take place at big races like the 24 at Daytona.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/youre-going-to-see-weird-tires-at-the-24-hours-of-daytona-heres-why/

the most and least satisfying tire brands have been under study by Consumer Reports over the past four years, over 52,000 sets of tires

The tire testing process includes a number of grip-related evaluations, including wet and dry braking, handling, and snow traction.

two brands had top marks for satisfaction among all-season tires: Michelin and Vredestein. Significantly, 10 all-season tire brands were given our lowest rating.

• The all-terrain tire category was judged to be more satisfying, with 11 of 26 brands found by owners to have favorable satisfaction.

• Satisfaction is widely distributed among the winter/snow tire category, with four brands receiving the highest ratings

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/tires/tire-brands-ranked-in-order-of-consumer-satisfaction-a2490084769/

Uniroyal was rated at the bottom of Consumer Reports' recent ranking of the most satisfying All-Season tire brands, though several other budget offerings were also listed in the red for the same category. 

Unfortunately it also landed last in customer satisfaction when it comes to its Winter/Snow tire offerings. 

Sumitomo, Kelly, Hercules, GT Radial, Dunlop, and, BF Goodrich were also rated red by unsatisfied customers in that category. 

In the Summer tire category, Sumitomo was the worst rated tire for customer satisfaction, with the budget brand making the unfortunate claim of being at, or very near the bottom of the list in all four categories surveyed for the Consumer Reports rankings. 

In the All-Terrain category, Sumitomo earned the lowest marks for customer satisfaction. 

Michelin Tires fared the best on the Consumer Reports satisfaction list, and earned the highest rating in all four categories surveyed.

 It was the only manufacturer to claim that honor. 

However, the European tire brand Vredestein was also rated well in all categories, earning light green marks in the All-Season, Winter/Snow, and Summer tire categories, and a dark green rating in the All-Terrain sector. 

https://www.slashgear.com/2080149/tire-brand-with-lowest-customer-satisfaction-rating-consumer-reports/

the first car tires.... were ordered by Winton, from Goodrich, Here is his account of how getting car tires made, for the first car, went.

I went to the Goodrich Company, in Akron, and told them I wanted something bigger than their biggest bicycle tire, something that would fit the wheels of a horseless carriage.

“That’s a new one on us,” cried a man to whom I had been directed.

“A horseless carriage, eh? Hmph! Will it run?”

“You bet it will.”

“Well, I guess we can make them, although we never have.”

“That’s fine.”

The man hesitated, rubbed his chin, and observed: “We will make them, but you will have to pay for the molds.”

“Do what?”

“Yes, sir. There won’t be enough call for tires for horseless carriages, and we can’t afford to pay for the molds. Also, you will have to pay for them in advance — and the tires too. We’ll have them on our hands if you don’t get them.”

I paid.

They were single-tube affairs, and were pretty expensive. It wasn’t long before I got a puncture, and while I thought of patching the tire I figured out what I considered a better idea. Molasses was heavy and would stop leaks if they weren’t too large, so I began pumping it into the tube. I pumped too hard. The rubber gave way and the molasses came out too quickly to be dodged.

https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/sep-keyword/winton-motor-carriage-company

attention getting advertising

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/341211-period-images-to-relieve-some-of-the-stress/page/273