![]() ![]() Individual characteristics are unique aspects of a particular shoe or tire that result from use, not the manufacturing process. (Courtesy of John Black, Ron Smith & Associates) For example, two tires of the same brand, model and size will have identical tread design and dimensions, but may have slight differences due to imperfections in the molds used during manufacturing.Įnlarged image of a tire tread shows characteristics unique to the mold used to create this tire (red arrows). Limited characteristics refer to variations that are unique to a certain mold. General class characteristics include those that are standard for every item of that make and model. To do this, examiners use three main characteristics to analyze the imprints and impressions: class, individual and wear.Ĭlass characteristics result from the manufacturing process and are divided into general and limited. A forensic examiner can use that wear pattern along with the tread pattern and information gained from database searches to positively match that impression to the suspect’s vehicle.ĭuring the examination of a crime scene or other location, if footwear or tire track evidence is found and collected, examiners can compare these unknown impressions to known impressions, impressions connected to other crimes and impression evidence stored in law enforcement databases. In the case of a tire track, if a vehicle is out of alignment, the right front tire may be heavily worn on the outer edge, leaving a unique wear pattern. This is called wear, and is often reflected in the imprint or pattern left behind. These imprints or impressions can be compared to a suspect’s shoe or a vehicle’s tire to determine if the shoe or tire is the same one that left the impression.Īs shoes and tires are used, their physical features change over time. For example, a shoe will leave an impression in loose sand, but on a hard surface like concrete or linoleum, it will leave an imprint. The type of evidence left behind depends largely on the type of surface traveled. ![]() Photo Credit The basic theory behind footwear and tire track analysis is that, much like fingerprints, shoes and tires may leave behind either prints (referred to as “imprints”) or impressions that can be examined by investigators. ![]()
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