Utopian ideas

As I drove through my fair city this last week I was struck by how many wildly underinflated tires I saw. You know the sort, neglected E36 M3 box running around with 5 psi in the left front.

It got me to thinking: we hear so often about our overconsumption of fossil fuels and also how something as simple as properly inflated tires can make a large difference. Would it be to much of a stretch for there to be a position (city government level) for a guy in a truck to cruise around inflating tires? As a society would it help? Say he went to the mall and cruised up and down the rows of soccer mom minivans and teenagers' beaters filling tires as he went. Would the savings in decreased use of fuel and subsequent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions be enough to pay his salary at the macro level?

Maybe I have too much free processor time in my brain as I drive but this sort of thing comes to me and I wanted to share. Anyone else have a simple improvement for the people of this tired old planet?

You would just have angry people shouting about someone monkeying with their car.

That's utopian? I'd say it's a step in the wrong direction. It's not government's job to wipe our butts and air up our tires.

I dunno, but when certain Democratic presidential candidate made a point about it in the 2008 campaign, quite a few on the (R)ight thought he was some sort of idiot.

Here in Kalifornia the horrible socialist gov't mandates that every repair shop inflate tires to the EPA sticker specifications on the door jam sticker. Seems like a simple way to save MPG, tire wear, and emissions. Are we allowed to care about the environment in politics now?

You are thinking too small - maybe if we legislated that all cars must have some sort of system that checks the air for you we could make people pay for their own stupidity and give desperately needed jobs to the auto industry! Maybe even get some huge payday from the auto lobby for the effort!

I know this sounds crazy... but we can spin it as safety for the children. Call the airbag people up and see if they have any slide decks we can use.

I can't believe no one has thought of this yet!

This is why they have mandated Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) on all cars since I think 2007. I am not fan of more regulations.

I am amazed that I still see Exploders with front tyres with sidewalls scuffed down to the white after what Ford went through with Firestone and underinflated tyres on those SUVs

If the tire guy works for the govt the liability will cost far more than any fuel savings as some shyster lays the blame for every oddly worn tire, damaged wheel or flat tire at the purse of the agency. Everything from the quality of the air being installed to the accuracy of his/her tire gauge is called into question as an attempt to pry their "fair share" from the government till.

I think the suggestion was to have some sort of service to check/inflate tires for the naive drivers on under inflated tires.

As you can tell from the responses here that making it a law to have your car maintained properly is way too overbearing.

As mentioned, here in CA we have laws that pertain to professionals. As an automotive service facility I am required to check and inflate the tires of EVERY vehicle we touch. The customer does have the right to decline and/or specify the pressures he/she prefers though. Even if I'm just replacing a light bulb, if there is a RO written I have to list the required tire pressures on the front page. All pressure gauges used have to have a +/-2 psi accuracy too. So just about any quality gauge and air chuck should qualify.

It felt over the top when it was first implemented a couple years ago. But it did force me to track down the proper pressures every time rather then just inflate all of them to 32-36 psi. I was surprised at the range of pressures suggested by the manufacturer. I found it very enlightening, so I appreciate the law now. I also understand that as a professional hired to service the vehicle I should be the one required to inflate them properly. Full Service gas stations barely exist anymore and most people can't be bothered with checking tires or it's beyond their mechanical abilities. So it's not practical to force the vehicle owners to be liable for it unfortunately.

I have a brilliant idea! How about fuel stations maned by attendants in clean overalls that can check your tires and your fluids while they fill your fuel tank? They could even clean your windshield if needed!

HappyAndy wrote: I have a brilliant idea! How about fuel stations maned by attendants in clean overalls that can check your tires and your fluids while they fill your fuel tank? They could even clean your windshield if needed!

That's radical!

And they could sell gas for 29.9 cents per gallon!

In response to Wally: oops, I didn't think of that, I don't normally think of litigation so I forget that other people do.

Yep this was the point of TPMS, so the car will nag incessantly until the owner gets off their lazy ass and puts air in the tires.

The City Tire Inflator Dude would've been a helluva lot cheaper and easier, but then everyone would sue his ass as Wally points out, and it would be totally communist it wouldn't even create a market for TPMS gear we have to pay for!

In Heaven, most utopian ideas work great.

In practice, that would tick me off. Especially if I had to pay for it.

One of my states county has an active policing of cars idling too long. Especially in the winter when people let them warm up before driving them. I can certainly see that county doing it. Heck, they've already outlawed all new gas stations.

Not my definition of Utopian in any way shape or form.

just mandate central tire inflation systems.

Go back to solid rubber tires. Problem solved.

Next question please.

Gearheadotaku wrote: just mandate central tire inflation systems.

Funny story: my shop works on semis and lots of trailers are equipped with central air systems; guy came in and said his tire was flat in the morning but he figured he'd roll to a shop and have them check it out. He did and they said all his tires were fine; the one that was flat had no visible damage, he made it here and had one of my guys check it out and we found that the "inside" tire had a bolt in it and the one way check valve was broken so everytime he would stop it would flatten both tires. While it was running or there was air in the tank it appeared to be fine.

Mandated central air is not a great idea.

Mandate people don't be so dumbass.

(yup, I'd said it, anyone wants some Brawndo?)

1988RedT2 wrote:

HappyAndy wrote: I have a brilliant idea! How about fuel stations maned by attendants in clean overalls that can check your tires and your fluids while they fill your fuel tank? They could even clean your windshield if needed!

That's radical! And they could sell gas for 29.9 cents per gallon!

Hey, I did all that in 1967! Even got tips sometimes if I did a good job on the windshields.

Regardless of the governmental issues, I doubt that the efficiency increase would cover the cost of operating the truck all day every day much less the salary and expense of the guy driving it. I'd wager that most of the 5 psi people don't drive enough miles to make the numbers work.

HappyAndy wrote: I have a brilliant idea! How about fuel stations maned by attendants in clean overalls that can check your tires and your fluids while they fill your fuel tank? They could even clean your windshield if needed!

Come to NJ

So, make a business out of it.

I have considered a mobile lube service for a while. Go to businesses and lube/ service vehicles in the parking lot while people are working.

Such a service could include a 10 or 15 point safety check that included tire pressure.

Businesses could hire the mobile lube as a concierge service to their employees- it would score a lot of points with their employees. A fairly cheap benefit that is highly seen and greatly appreciated, that improves worker productivity at the same time.

Put down the pipe, there is no Utopia.

There's no way everyone on this planet is going to share one person's vision.

Unless that one person is me!

mad_machine wrote:

HappyAndy wrote: I have a brilliant idea! How about fuel stations maned by attendants in clean overalls that can check your tires and your fluids while they fill your fuel tank? They could even clean your windshield if needed!

Come to NJ

I'm from NJ, and as a teenager I pumped gas, what I did doesn't match what I described , especially the clean overalls part