U.S. Proposes System to Monitor Tires

U.S. auto regulators proposed a long-awaited monitoring system that would warn motorists when automobile tires are dangerously underinflated, officials said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that its plan will cost the industry $800 million to $1.1 billion to phase in the technology on all new vehicles from 2005 to 2007. The industry estimate is higher.

The system measures pressure simultaneously on all four tires and alerts motorists with a warning light when a tire is underinflated by more than 25%.