Artificial intelligence in general, and ChatGPT specifically, are some of the hottest subjects in the world right now. Not only are they a topic of conversation on virtually every podcast or news segment, artificial intelligence and ChatGPT can even be found at the heart of serious social issues, including the writer’s guild strike in Hollywood.
While ChatGPT is causing all sorts of fascinating discussions in the worlds of technology, philosophy, creativity and art, it hasn’t come up much in the world of tires.
That’s why we thought we’d see what we could learn about tire safety from artificial intelligence and how it stands up to what we’ve learned since our founding in 1960.
But first…
WHAT IS AI?
According to IBM, artificial intelligence is the “use of computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind.”
Long relegated to the realms of fiction, artificial intelligence actually has an extensive history not just in the oft-thumbed pages of sci-fi novels or on the silver screen (Terminator, anyone?) but in the real world, as well.
So, here’s our (very) brief history of artificial intelligence, or AI: Chess-playing machines arrived as early as 1914. In 1927, the film Metropolis featured a robot that would go on to inspire C-3PO in Star Wars: A New Hope. In 1942, Isaac Asimove composed the “Three Laws of Robotics”.
Published in 1950, Alan Turing’s “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” established the Turing Test for differing between human and robotic text responses. Speaking of Turing…the machines he made to decode German ciphers in WWII established modern computers, leading to the inevitable arrival of smartphones in 1993 (yes, we’re skipping ahead—this is a BRIEF history).
As of 2023, smartphones are now owned on a global scale, accounting for nearly 85% of the human population. You may even be reading this on yours!
Speaking of smartphones, their predictive text function is a form of AI. Other examples of modern AI include Tesla’s Autopilot, Hanson Robotics’ Sophia, Google’s self-driving mapping vehicles, and, of course, ChatGPT. Even Google is getting in on the AI game with their new Search Generative Experience, AKA SGE.
Although it once lived solely in the realms of sci-fi, AI is fiction no more. And while it isn’t as scary as Skynet, AI will still have a huge impact on how we live.
For a more thorough history, check out what the brainiacs at Harvard have to say about AI.
WHAT IS CHATGPT?
Of course, the AI we’re focused on is ChatGPT. We’re sure you’ve heard of it. But for those scratching their heads and mumbling, “what on earth is ChatGPT?”, we’ll do a quick breakdown for you. For a full explainer on ChatGPT, it’s worth going straight to the source: OpenAI, the company behind the ground-breaking AI. And be sure to check out their blog post about ChatGPT.
While we are tire experts, we aren’t experts in artificial intelligence. But to give you a quick summary, ChatGPT is an AI language model capable of advanced conversation (read: actual dialogue), including conversational recall. Meaning? ChatGPT can refer back to previous things discussed in the conversation, even addressing its own mistakes or limitations, or providing corrections to answers based on new information the user provides.
And because of the billions of data points—yes, you read that right; 175 billion, to be precise—used in its creation, ChatGPT is a certified expert on many subjects. From web code to legislation to medical concerns, ChatGPT is a fount of information. In short, it’s like an encyclopedia that can talk back when you query it.
HOW DOES CHATGPT WORK?
While ChatGPT is pretty complicated on the backend, the interface is pretty straightforward. There’s a text entry field at the bottom. You punch in a prompt, from something as simple as “How are you?” to something as complex as “What are the sociopolitical forces that shaped Mozart’s musical compositions?”
Then, the large language model does its thing: promptly writes a response to your query.
ChatGPT, and AI in general, have gotten very advanced, and they’ve seen use in everything from writing email subject lines to recreating sonnets about the neighbor’s cat in Shakepseare’s voice, writing a rap about beans in Drake’s voice, and the list goes on. The possibilities seem just about endless. With that in mind, we thought we’d ask ChatGPT what it thinks about tire safety.
As tire safety experts, we’re all for learning what AI and technology can do for our drivers and their tires.
Tire safety is always near and dear to our hearts, and it’s more important than ever thanks to the booming popularity of road trips. If you’re planning a road trip, be sure to check out our road trip checklist to make sure you’re ready to get behind the wheel and explore the wide open highways, byways and backroads of the great American roadtrip!
(Speaking of road trips: if you’re looking to upgrade your tires before your next adventure, we’ve got our picks for the top tires for road trips in 2023!)
So, let’s dive into ChatGPT’s tire safety tips and see how they line up with what we at Discount Tire recommend for tire safety!
(What follows is a verbatim quote from ChatGPT.)
CHATGPT TIRE SAFETY TIPS
“Hello! Yes, I can help you with tire maintenance. Tires are an essential component of a vehicle and proper maintenance is important for safety, performance, and longevity. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Regularly Check Tire Pressure: Maintaining the correct tire pressure is crucial for safety and optimal performance. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure regularly (at least once a month) and adjust it to the recommended level specified by the vehicle manufacturer. This information can usually be found on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb or in the owner's manual.
Inspect Tread Depth: Adequate tread depth ensures proper traction, especially on wet or slippery roads. Use a tread depth gauge to measure the depth of the tire's grooves. If the tread depth is too low (less than 2/32 of an inch), it's time to replace the tires.
Rotate Tires: Regularly rotating your tires helps ensure even wear and extends their lifespan. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the recommended rotation pattern and frequency. As a general guideline, it's often recommended to rotate tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
Check for Signs of Wear: Inspect your tires for any signs of irregular wear patterns, such as uneven tread wear, cupping, or bald spots. If you notice any abnormal wear, it may indicate alignment or suspension issues that should be addressed.
Maintain Proper Wheel Alignment: Proper wheel alignment helps ensure even tire wear and improves handling. If you notice your vehicle pulling to one side, steering wheel vibration, or uneven tire wear, it's a good idea to have the alignment checked and adjusted if necessary.
Balancing Tires: Tires should be balanced to distribute weight evenly and prevent vibrations. If you experience vibrations in the steering wheel or through the vehicle, it may indicate that your tires need to be balanced.
Be Mindful of Tire Age: Tires age even if they have plenty of tread remaining. It's generally recommended to replace tires that are more than six years old, regardless of their condition. Check the tire sidewall for a DOT code that indicates the tire's age.
Proper Storage: If you need to store your tires for an extended period, keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, chemicals, and sources of heat. Stacking them or using a tire rack is a good way to prevent deformation.
Remember, it's always a good idea to consult your vehicle's owner's manual or seek advice from a professional mechanic for specific tire maintenance recommendations for your particular vehicle.”
OUR THOUGHTS ON CHATGPT’S TIRE SAFETY TIPS
To start off, every bit of that was written by ChatGPT. And truth be told, we agree with the AI! Maintaining the proper air pressure in your vehicle is one of the most important things you can do for tire safety. And tire rotations and balancing are another big point, too. In fact, ChatGPT covered many of our favorite tire safety points!
That said, we’ve got pretty serious tire expertise built on the foundation of more than 60 years of experience. And we can provide personalized tire maintenance services based on what you drive, how you drive it and the types of tires you drive on.
While ChatGPT can tell you how important it is to check your tire air pressure, we can check it for you—free of charge!
We have 1,000-plus stores standing by to help you with your tires (and wheels). We also offer a suite of free tire safety services, including free tire rotations, free airchecks, and even free flat repairs!
And if you want to learn more about maintaining your tires, we have you covered with everything you need to know about tires, wheels and more. While ChatGPT has some fun facts about tire maintenance, we’ve written the book on tire safety—all backed by more than half a century of experience providing peerless customer service while installing tires and wheels.
By the way, if you’re after the safest tire for your vehicle, there are plenty of great options. We stand by every single tire we sell, and they all meet our rigorous standards for performance and safety. Plus, you can check out our thoughts on the safest tires in 2023!
It’ll come as no surprise to you that as an emerging technology, ChatGPT will continue to evolve. We intend to follow its evolution closely and see how it can teach us more about tires and tire safety.
While these things develop, if you’re in need of tire safety services, we’ve got you covered. You can drop by at your convenience, or schedule an appointment online. We bet scheduling an appointment in advance is what ChatGPT would recommend.
And if you’re in the market for a new set of tires, be sure to try out Treadwell, our intuitive tire buying guide. Consider it Discount Tire’s artificial intelligence tool for matching drivers with the best tires for their unique driving needs. It’s the same tire guide our in-store tire experts use to match customers with their perfect tires.
Check out our interview with Dr. Baldwin to learn all about treadwell and how it gets better with every use (a lot like ChatGPT)! Treadwell's data is even backed by track testing data!
If you’re looking for a new set of wheels, we also have a high-tech tool you can use to see what your ride looks like with new rims, all without having to leave the comfort of your home. Check out our wheel visualizer to really see what we mean! (See what we did there?)
If you prefer the analog approach, you’re more than welcome to just stop on by. We’re always happy to help you out the old school way: face to face. Give us a ring, stop on by or make an appointment, and we’ll get you taken care of.
When you’re ready for new tires, be sure to buy and book online. Not only will you get access to exclusive, online-only deals, you also get a shorter wait time in-store when you buy your tires (or wheels) and book an appointment online ahead of time!
For more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on X, Facebook and Instagram.