A New Jersey mechanic’s routine auto inspection instantly went viral after he discovered a customer was driving on tires so damaged they were literally being held together by duct tape. Will Niven, who works as a mechanic when he isn’t racing stock cars and dune buggies, shared the absolutely nuts footage on his TikTok account, @willniven.
The 50-second clip shows Niven examining a customer’s vehicle that was only in the bay for a standard emissions test, according to Moto1. This discovery has sparked a necessary debate about whether the Garden State needs to seriously ramp up its vehicle safety inspections.
As Niven spun the wheels on the lift, the extent of the damage became terrifyingly clear. All four tires were in rough shape, but one was essentially destroyed. Chunks of rubber were missing, and the structural integrity was so compromised that the gray tape was the only thing preventing a total blowout.
Replace your tires if they aren’t road-worthy
“Duct tape. This is nuts. And it gets stuck on the fender,” Niven said as he showed viewers the makeshift and utterly dangerous repair. The tires themselves were ancient; they were manufactured back in 2015. Nine-year-old tires are already a safety risk, but driving on them in this condition is just reckless.
Niven couldn’t believe what he was seeing, asking the internet, “I mean, he drove around like this. At what point does the safety of the other people on the road come into play?” This isn’t a hack for cars; this is incredibly dangerous.
The terrifying truth is that vehicles like this one can legally operate in New Jersey. The state eliminated mandatory safety inspections for most passenger vehicles back in 2010, arguing that modern cars are safer and better maintained. However, even routine tire fills can go wrong.
Now, the state’s inspection program focuses entirely on meeting environmental standards rather than checking critical safety components like brakes, suspension, or tires. Only commercial vehicles, such as buses and taxis, require annual safety checks.
The video kicked off an intense debate online. People were split between supporting safety regulations and hating government oversight. One viewer, Tyler, wrote, “As much as I hate government nonsense I do think yearly SAFETY INSPECTIONS are a good thing.”
However, others pushed back, citing the painful costs associated with strict inspections. SPAMMY criticized Pennsylvania’s system, saying they should “get rid of inspection altogether until they can fix their roads.” Another commenter summed up the dual nature of the situation perfectly: “As a guy on the internet, this is hilarious, as a tire technician, this is horrifying.”
One of the key reasons drivers delay replacement is, understandably, the cost. MechEDC claimed that “A new set of tires is 1k. That is why.” While tires can certainly be expensive, Niven was quick to point out that you don’t need the most expensive brands. According to Consumer Reports’ 2024 survey, a complete set of four tires typically runs from $460 to $1,280, depending on the vehicle and quality. My last four cost me $600.
The incident highlights a massive tension: individual financial constraints versus public safety. What’s strange is that many cars won’t work for the most minor reasons, yet some can last the test of time with tires that look like they’ve been through the shredder.
