Simple Tire Standards Collection

Mike Byrd
Miami-Dade Police Department
Crime Scene Investigations

See also the instructional videos on "Footwear and Tire Track Impressions"

Introduction

There will be times the crime scene investigator or evidence recovery technician will be given the task of collecting suspected tire standards for comparison or elimination of tire track impressions that were recovered at a particular crime scene. There are many products on the market designed to accomplish these task. But what does the investigator do if his/her agency or department doesn't have the commercial products on hand. This article is written to assist by allowing the investigator to use a few items that are easily available to him/her in retrieving the suspected standards at minimal cost. Being flexible and adaptable are very important. The investigator will only be limited to his or her imagination.

Items needed for the task

one 13 oz. jar of pure petroleum jelly (Vaseline).
black fingerprint powder
one cardboard box
white or yellow grease marking pencil
sharpie permanent marking pen
pair of latex gloves
utility knife

Receive our free monthly newsletter and/or job posting alerts Click to sign up

Two Step Process

This 2 step process will make recovering suspect tire standards very simple.

A cardboard box or foam board is recommended since the investigator is not always going to have a smooth flat surface to work from. The cardboard or foam board will allow the investigator to retrieve the suspected standard from the tire without all of the background noise from the surface appearing in the recovery medium. The average tire width of most vehicles will vary in tread pattern size from 6 to 8 inches in width. Take the cardboard box and cut it into working strips approximately 18 inches to 24 inches wide using the length of the entire box. It is preferred to make the strips wider than the tread pattern size of the tire so that the investigator has an area to mark along the side of each collected strip with the information needed. Since you will need to retrieve the entire circumference of the tire 3 to 4 strips may be needed for each individual suspect tire standard.

Take a jar of Vaseline. Scoop out 3 to 4 large table spoons full of Vaseline from the jar. Replace the Vaseline that was removed from the jar with 3 to 4 table spoons of black fingerprint powder. Mix the formula together in the jar. Make sure you are wearing a pair of latex gloves, since this process tends to be on the messy side.

To best replicate conditions of the suspect tire, the tire standard should be taken while the tire remains mounted on the vehicle. Scoop out a generous portion of the mixture with the gloved hand and begin applying it to the tire. Work the mixture over the exposed portion of the tire. The key is to apply an even thin coat of the mixture onto the tire surface.

As you have probably figured out at this point this is not a task for the lone ranger and will require assistance to accomplish. With the permanent marker, label the first strip with the appropriate information and line it up on the surface against the tire. Use the marking pencil to establish and mark on the tire the starting rotation point. Slowly roll the vehicle allowing the tire tread pattern to transfer to the strip. Place your second strip on the surface against the first strip allowing the uninterrupted pattern to continue. At this point stop the procedure long enough to apply a thin even coat of the transfer mixture onto the uncoated portion of the tire. Now continue the sequence until the rotation (marked area of tire) is completed. Lay the strips aside and allow the transfer mixture to dry. Do not stack the strips during the drying stage.

For drying and transport the investigator can opt to take a large empty box. Cut angled slots along two sides of the length of the box. This will allow the investigator to stand the recovered strips without their touching.

Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics or Forensic Psychology

Suggested information to be placed on the individual recovered strips

Police or Agency designated case number.
Date.
Investigator's initials and identification number.
Tire manufacturer.
Tire size.
Tire Serial Number.
Alpha-Numerical strip indicator.
Tire placement.

Conclusion

There are many items that can be used for this technique, i.e.; paste shoe polish, latent fingerprint ink, etc. Try a couple of test strips and check with the laboratory that will do your comparisons to ensure that this method meets their standards. Remember that safety in any task is the first responsibility.

About the Author

Mike Byrd (1955-2005) joined the Miami-Dade County Police Department in 1983 and started with the Crime Scene Investigations Bureau in 1987. He took an exceptionally active part in the science of forensic crime scene investigations, including development of new techniques, publishing methodology of crime scene procedures, and teaching. Mike developed new techniques for gathering and cataloging crime scene evidence including the lifting of fingerprints, vehicle tire impressions, and footwear impressions.

Mike's methods and analysis withstood the scrutiny of the criminal justice process. He published more than thirty crime scene articles on crime scene evidence collection and for the International Association for Identification and was awarded The Good of the Association Award in 2002 for his innovative identification methodology and techniques. He taught crime scene investigation procedures and techniques at police departments around the country and took great pride at instructing smaller Florida police departments in the latest techniques in evidence gathering.

Mike performed the tough detailed oriented forensic work at many major crime scenes and disasters over two-decades. He gathered, processed, and identified the DNA evidence used to convict the Tamiami Strangler for a string of heinous murders in 1994. His thoughtful gathering of evidence at the Valujet crash allowed families to reach closure for the deaths of loved ones.

Mike Byrd died after a more than two year battle with multiple myeloma cancer. Annually, the Police Officer Assistance Trust awards the Mike Byrd Crime Scene Investigation Scholarship in his honor.

Articles by Mike Byrd

Article submitted by the author