5 Questions With William Estupinan, Vice President of Technical Service, GiTi Tire USA: Tire Safety and Wear - A Manufacturer's Perspective

Five questions for William Estupinan, Vice President of Technical Service at GT TireUSA, on tire safety, wear, and performance from a manufacturer's point of view. The conversation ranges across what heavier EVs mean for tires and maintenance, why a single tread measurement misses irregular wear and hidden damage, the inflation-pressure misconception even technicians hold, the most common causes of tire failures that cross his desk, and where smart tires and digital inspection are real versus hype. A grounded, technical view from someone with decades inside the industry.

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Takeaways

• heavier EVs make basic tire maintenance matter more
• a single tread measurement misses irregular wear and hidden damage
• correct tire pressure is on the driver's-door placard, not stamped on the tire sidewall
• most tire failures trace back to service, not manufacturing
• under-inflation, road hazards, and skipped rotations cause the most damage
• the more technology we add, the more a trained inspector's judgment counts

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