Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • A year later, pandemic's full tire industry impact unclear
      Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled until 2022
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
    • DTM switches horses mid-stream; awards race tire contract to Michelin
      Icahn Auto trims fiscal 2020 operating loss despite 14% lower sales
      Oshkosh unit gets contract for new USPS local delivery vehicle
      Sumitomo adds treadwear-detection to 'Sensor Core' toolkit
    • CarAdvise partnering with RepairSmith mobile repair services
      Goodyear to raise prices by up to 8% on all passenger tires on April 1
      Point S posts strongest year ever in sales profit, growth, store growth
      Conlan Tire buys BestDrive locations in Ark., Okla., Texas from Continental
    • Giti rolling out range of GT Radial-brand urban/regional truck tires
      Conlan Tire buys BestDrive locations in Ark., Okla., Texas from Continental
      Michelin upgrades 2 lines of Energy-branded truck tires
      TravelCenters plans 6 TA Express sites in California in 2021
    • USTMA joins coalition supporting passage of Equality Act
      McMahon's Best-One increases its minimum wage to $15
      Oshkosh unit gets contract for new USPS local delivery vehicle
      Conti recalling 94,000 Conti-, General-, Barum-brand LT/SUV tires
    • Goodyear names Patterson to lead Cooper integration efforts
      DTM switches horses mid-stream; awards race tire contract to Michelin
      Sentury's 10-year global expansion strategy will include plants in North America, Europe
      Rebound in car tire demand drives USTMA market forecast for 2021
    • DTM switches horses mid-stream; awards race tire contract to Michelin
      Bridgestone World Solar Challenge canceled due to pandemic restrictions
      Pirelli, Goodyear ink sedan racing series contracts in Canada, Europe
      Goodyear extends partnership with Nürburgring race circuit
    • Giti rolling out range of GT Radial-brand urban/regional truck tires
      U.S.-sourced Milestar Weatherguard AS710 offers all-season value
      Michelin upgrades 2 lines of Energy-branded truck tires
      Falken revamps winter tire lineup with studless Eurowinter products
    • A year later, pandemic's full tire industry impact unclear
      U.S.-sourced Milestar Weatherguard AS710 offers all-season value
      New Nexen Tire Garage offers dealers digital resources
      CarAdvise partnering with RepairSmith mobile repair services
    • Pennzoil offering carbon-neutral lubricants for passenger cars
      Washington dealership uses new-school solution for recruiting auto techs
      Marinucci: Customers may ignore dangerous conditions
      Automotive Lift Institute introduces Check360 inspection, label
    • SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
      SEMA scholarships and loan forgiveness now available
      WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
    • SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
      Trade groups oppose minimum wage increase proposal
      New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
    • Goodyear names Patterson to lead Cooper integration efforts
      Giti rolling out range of GT Radial-brand urban/regional truck tires
      U.S.-sourced Milestar Weatherguard AS710 offers all-season value
      New Nexen Tire Garage offers dealers digital resources
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
    • Video: Demounting
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
      How to clear rim rust and corrosion
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
    • Video: Safety
      Customers
      Considerations for shop safety policies
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
    • Video: TMPS Service
      The life-saving work of TPMS
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
    • Video: Training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
      Choosing the right auto service tech school
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      The gravity of proper lift points
      Safety essentials when using jack stands
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      The importance of torque specifications
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
February 28, 2000 01:00 AM

They're still seeing red

Jeff Yip
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco's Board of Supervisors is scheduled to decide on March 6 whether to outlaw sales of the colorful BFGoodrich Scorcher T/As in that city. Supervisor Mabel Teng, sponsor of the ban, is worried that the tires will prompt immature drivers to burn rubber, leaving colored skid marks.

    "San Francisco already spends $1.5 million a year in taxpayers' money to clean up graffiti. Why would we want to welcome a product that would make graffiti worse?" Ms. Teng said at a Feb. 15 meeting of the Housing and Social Policy Committee.

    She and other officials also worry that gangs might use Scorchers to mark their turfs or challenge rivals. That, warned San Francisco Police Capt. Greg Suhr, could lead to drive-by shootings or other violence.

    Michelin North America Inc.'s James Morton, at the meeting to try and calm fears about the tires, noted: "Thousands have been sold since last summer and not a single complaint has arisen" about Scorchers leaving skid marks.

    "We don't believe a ban is necessary," said Mr. Morton, vice president of government and public relations. "We are willing to work with you to monitor the situation to see if the tires are being used inappropriately."

    Michelin will also set up a toll-free number to be used by the Department of Public Works and the police in the San Francisco area to report any problems.

    The tire maker has pledged to reimburse the city, for a year, the costs to remove any Scorcher skid marks. That tab would run about $100 each, according to San Francisco officials.

    A spokesman for the San Francisco police department said officers have neither spotted Scorchers on the street nor heard of any problems related to the distinctive tires. Officer S. Mulkeen added that, to the best of his knowledge, the city hadn't tested a Scorcher to see if it left a colored mark.

    Mr. Morton apologized for Michelin's initial video release last summer that depicted vehicles leaving long, colored "patches" with their Scorchers. The company pulled the promotion within days of getting complaints. Michelin officials also said, in the wake of the controversy, that the BFGoodrich-branded tire could not actually make noticeable skid marks.

    That's not enough for San Francisco Supervisor Sue Bierman, who wants Michelin to dump the Scorcher name for something less provocative. "I think the word `scorcher' is an invitation to kids to drive dangerously," said Ms. Bierman. "It means you whirl the car in a certain way to scorch the ground."

    While Mr. Morton said the company would rein in the marketing of the colors as "raging red" and "blazing blue," he indicated Michelin would not likely drop "Scorcher." Ms. Teng had suggested Michelin use "Rainbow," but on Feb. 22 a Michelin spokeswoman confirmed: "We remain committed to the Scorcher T/A name and have no plans to change it."

    She added that Michelin is continuing to try to find a solution that will be acceptable to the city's Board of Supervisors prior to their March 6 meeting.

    Could Michelin be held liable as a result of an injury or death claimed to have been related to a colored tire? "It's a very long shot," said Gregory C. Keating, a professor of law at the University of Southern California who specializes in such cases. "I think the view courts would take with these tires and gang violence is that Michelin didn't induce this kind of behavior. They didn't market it for gang members to go out, buy it and incite gang violence."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award