Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: nuchpatrick on April 07, 2005, 12:55:50 PM
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I'm not sure how many will agree with me.. but I like to regulate my own tire pressures...
This was taken from the AP.
Updated: 12:42 PM EDT
New Cars Must Have Tire Pressure Systems by 2008
By KEN THOMAS, AP
WASHINGTON (April 7) - New passenger cars must have tire pressure monitoring systems in place by the 2008 model year, the government announced Thursday.
To comply with the regulation, which has its roots in the Firestone tire recall of 2000, automakers most likely will attach tiny sensors to each wheel that will signal if a tire falls 25 percent below the recommended inflation pressure. If any one of the four tires is underinflated, the sensors set off a dashboard warning light.
Automakers will begin implementing the technology in September. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the upgrade will cost manufacturers between $48.44 and $69.89 per vehicle.
The government said underinflated tires hurt a vehicle's fuel economy and can increase stopping distances, increase likelihood of tire failure and lead to skidding on wet surfaces.
All new four-wheel vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less will be required to be equipped with the systems by the 2008 model year. The regulation affects passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans.
NHTSA estimates that 120 lives a year will be saved when all new vehicles are equipped with the systems.
The regulation was proposed last September. Tire manufacturers have questioned whether the warning system would signal low pressure early enough. Automakers have raised concerns that motorists may ignore the lights if they appear too frequently.
Donald B. Shea, president and chief executive of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the trade group that represents tire makers, said, "Unfortunately, this regulation may give motorists a false sense of security that their tires are properly inflated when they may be significantly underinflated."
Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine automakers, said about 18 percent of their vehicles already have the technology. It first appeared in the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette and is currently used in some luxury vehicles.
"We're gratified that there's a final rule which allows us to continue the implementation of the technology as we've been doing," Shosteck said.
Congress, seeking ways to prevent SUV rollovers after more than 10 million Firestone tires were recalled beginning in August 2000, sought the warning devices in The Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act.
NHTSA originally issued a rule in December 2001 that would have required vehicles made after November 2003 to have dashboard lights warning drivers if their tire pressure was low.
But Public Citizen and other consumer groups sued the government agency, arguing the rule weakly allowed automakers to choose between cheaper "indirect" monitors, which operate off the antilock braking system, or "direct" systems, which have monitors attached to each wheel.
A federal appeals court in New York agreed with the consumer groups and tossed out NHTSA's rule in August 2003, leading to the new process of issuing the regulation.
Joan Claybrook, the president of Public Citizen and a former NHTSA administrator, said she would prefer that motorists get quicker warnings about low tire pressure.
The rule requires the system to warn the driver within 20 minutes of additional travel within a speed range of about 30 mph to 60 mph. Claybrook said motorists driving locally at lower speeds might be delayed in receiving the dashboard warning.
"It's not exactly what we hoped but I think that it will work," Claybrook said.
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I'm trying to think of something catchy (along the lines of 'US out of my Uterus') but the best I can come up with is the nonsensical 'boobs off my intertubes'.
I feel like a clever person stuck in the mind and body of an idiot.
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Sounds like a good idea to prevent accidents, but the practical implementation doesn't seem that good.
We'll see...
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Originally posted by Chairboy
I'm trying to think of something catchy (along the lines of 'US out of my Uterus') but the best I can come up with is the nonsensical 'boobs off my intertubes'.
I feel like a clever person stuck in the mind and body of an idiot.
lol
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I can't get my undies in a bunch over this one...
Believe it or not, safety features sell and they sell nicely.
I think this is one of those cases where the politicians are scrambling to legislate things that are already happening. It gives the false impression that they're actually doing something.
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Jeez, I'd pay $50 for this immediately.
My wife is one of those folks that look at a radial and IMMEDIATELY think the tire is low.
It'd be worth $50 to get her to quit "false alarming" me.
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All new four-wheel vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less will be required to be equipped with the systems by the 2008 model year. The regulation affects passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans.
No problem, just make sure your vehicle weighs more than 10,000 pounds and it doesn't apply. Soccer moms won't even be affected.
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BTW, I have this in my 1999 Buick Regal, and it's great. Love the feature, hate the idea that another law is being created.
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bah, just another assault on our mobility by people who probably couldent even check there own oil.
even if it wasnt legistlated, i hate the idea of another idiot lifht on the dash. wouldent be to bad if it showed actual readings on a analog guage though...and even then its just a pathetic attempt to excuse people for being unable to perform even the most basic maintenance on there car.
(http://www.promotionalproducts.net/Graphics/tire_pressure_guage.jpg)
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The one time my 'Low pressure' light went off was when the tire was holed. So... the usefulness is a little better then what you suggest. Still shouldn't be a law though.
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This way they can fine your bellybutton though, have to think like a politician to see where their true intent lies.
-SW
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Originally posted by Chairboy
I feel like a clever person stuck in the mind and body of an idiot.
I thought that was clever:D....you idiot.
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Bet half the people who drive dont care if their tire is low unless its falt.
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Heh my Jeep Grand Cherokee already has this...it's great to monitor each wheels pressure.... Been tring to get one for my bosses arse so we can tell when she's about ready to have a hissey fit.
:D
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Been on Vette's for years.
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Yeah, darn that "big brother". First it was the forced "safety glass" that saved thousands of lives and horrible cuts, mutilations and amputations, and then they forced the installation of those pesky seat belts and air bags. First they make driving safer and prevent tragic deaths, now they dont want to allow us to roll over in traffic after a blowout, thus, preventing us against our will from killing ourselves and others.
Darned "big brother".
dago
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Originally posted by Dago
Yeah, darn that "big brother". First it was the forced "safety glass" that saved thousands of lives and horrible cuts, mutilations and amputations, and then they forced the installation of those pesky seat belts and air bags. First they make driving safer and prevent tragic deaths, now they dont want to allow us to roll over in traffic after a blowout, thus, preventing us against our will from killing ourselves and others.
Darned "big brother".
dago
Let put the right ammount of cynicism on this:
They don't want you rolling over after a tire failure, then being able to sue the pants off of Firestone and Ford like it was their fault you don't check your tire pressure and also insist on running your light truck tires with 50K+ miles of wear at 90-100mph on the highway.
For those keeping score for your special interest groups:
Trial Lawyers: 0
Big Business: 1
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dont have a problem with it as it is a safety issue. what i DO have a problem with are the data recording devices that they are going to be requiring automobiles to have...thats a bit much.
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Originally posted by JB88
dont have a problem with it as it is a safety issue. what i DO have a problem with are the data recording devices that they are going to be requiring automobiles to have...thats a bit much.
Friend of mine is legal aid to a lawyer who's entire practice is suing Ford. Not suing auto manufacturers, but Ford specifically. And he's a wealthy man.
If I'm Ford, you're darned right I'm going to start putting every data recording ability that's practical in every car AND I'm going to lobby congress to make it law so that everybody shares the pain of me having been unfairly singled out.
(Dont' know if auto lobby is behind this particular legislation, but I would be if I were Ford. Same if I were an insurance company).
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never heard about the data recording device. What is its purpose anyway?
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Kind of a silly law. By 2008, tires will not have any air in them anyways, if Michelin's program stays on track.
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What will they have in them? Sounds interesting, got linkage Skuzzy?
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It's going to be a good business to program those systems. The ordinary tire shop will not have the make specific equipment to do so.
Renault has that system and it usually needs to be programmed every time the tires are changed. Sometimes the system goes haywire just by itself, thats 70$ a pop.
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LOL SUVs in 2008 not with gas rocketing the way they are. lol
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Originally posted by GtoRA2
What will they have in them? Sounds interesting, got linkage Skuzzy?
Link (http://www.michelinman.com/difference/releases/pressrelease01102005a.html)
(http://www.michelinman.com/images/difference/releases/tweel_01102004A.jpg)
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Thank you Sandman. They have been road testing them for the last 6 months or so. Funky looking, but they seem to work well.
Instead of replacing the tire when it wears out, you (are you ready for this?) get them re-treaded! hehe.
Suppose to be good up to 6 re-treads, from what I can recall.
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You really think people who spend $50K and up on a car are that worried about gas prices?
The idea behind the data recorders (which are actually already in many cars) or 'black box' is to have a data record of everything that was happening during the last few seconds before a major 'incident'. Eg, airbag deployment, impact detection, etc. This way, the person goes to court to sue their car manufacturer for making a car that would 'just crash', then the manufacturer pulls up the data and asks if the plaintiff suspects that the fact they were doing 95mph might have contributed to the problem.
I'm on the fence here... as long as this data is not remote queryable (eg, must be physically retrieved), only records the minimum length of time needed (eg, a few seconds, not hours) and the data is used in an NTSB type function (to determine the cause of fault, not to make a bunch of lawyers rich), then it sounds ok.... but what are the odds that's what'll appear?
What we'll REALLY get within the next 10 years might be boxes that track speed, location, etc for the past hour and wirelessly upload it on demand. So Johnny Law might set up a speed trap where he doesn't actually have to clock you speeding, he just needs to ask your car if it has sped recently.
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Originally posted by Sandman
Link (http://www.michelinman.com/difference/releases/pressrelease01102005a.html)
(http://www.michelinman.com/images/difference/releases/tweel_01102004A.jpg)
Super neato. They remind me of what I imagined the skateboard wheels in 'Snow Crash' would look like.
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Originally posted by Samiam
Let put the right ammount of cynicism on this:
They don't want you rolling over after a tire failure, then being able to sue the pants off of Firestone and Ford like it was their fault you don't check your tire pressure and also insist on running your light truck tires with 50K+ miles of wear at 90-100mph on the highway.
For those keeping score for your special interest groups:
Trial Lawyers: 0
Big Business: 1
That about covers it :)
shamus
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NHTSA estimates that 120 lives a year will be saved when all new vehicles are equipped with the systems.
about half of these are just delaying the inevitable. People that cant check their tire pressure or do the basics of mait. on a vehicle are prime canidates for natural selection if you ask me.
These are the same people that shouldnt be using "power tools" either.