Driving the beaches

[Sweetwater]

For those of us who drive the beaches, make sure your next truck is a 2007. Look at this new legislation! Bound to drive us crazy when we air-down.


WASHINGTON - New passenger cars must have tire pressure monitoring systems in place by the 2008 model year, the government announced Thursday.

The regulation, which has its roots in the Firestone tire recall of 2000, will require automakers to attach tiny sensors to each wheel that will signal if a tire falls 25 percent below the recommended inflation pressure. If any one of the four tires is underinflated, the sensors set off a dashboard warning light.

All new four-wheel vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less will be required to be equipped with the systems by the 2008 model year. The regulation affects passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans.