The OTS Tire Life Check (TLC) Tour wrapped up its second year travelling the roads of Ontario at the end of October, and I would like to recognise the team of highly committed people, who spent their summer educating Ontarians about how to stay safe by prolonging the life of their tires through proper tire maintenance, and showcasing the host of green products that are made from end of life tires.

I recently received a wrap-up report on the 85 summer events that the TLC Team attended and what struck me was not the numbers. Sure, the team interacted with tens of thousands of people, gave out over 35,000 tread wear indicators, and conducted almost 4,000 tire pressure checks. What struck me was the community response and the acknowledgment of the meaningful service that the TLC team provide. People told us that they engaged with the team because they were able to learn something of value and not just to pick up a freebie.

In Kenora, very few of the people that the team interacted with at the local festival knew where or how to dispose of their tires, so the TLC team used the Find a Tire Collector function on our website on their I-Pads to show them. Across the province, festival attendees were amazed at the variety of products made from recycled tires that can be used in and around the home, and asked, “Where can I buy these?” Of course, the TLC team was able provide the answer. One woman at the Dundas Buskerfest wasn’t really interested until a TLC team member actually got her to test the tire pressure on the TLC truck. Then she was just beaming. She was visibly excited to learn something new that she wouldn’t have to depend on her husband for!

The TLC Team still has their work cut out for them next year, helping to correct a few persistent misperceptions. For example, 56% of the people surveyed during the tour thought there is a disposal fee for dropping off used tires. But, the fact is you can return up to 4 tires at a time for free to any OTS registered collector.

You may be reading the Rubber Soul Blog and visiting our website for the first time and therefore are not familiar with all the programs, like Tire Life Check, that Ontario Tire Stewardship provides. In fact, there is a good chance you haven’t thought a lot about your tire pressure or what happens to used tires after they are removed from your car or truck. If you haven’t, maybe it’s time to take a tour of the website or plan to visit the TLC Team at one of the 2012 tour stops.

If you did spend time with the TLC team this summer, we’d love hear if one of our dedicated team members was able to help you in a meaningful way.