Photo: The Tyre Extinguishers on Twitter / autoevolution edit
Owning an SUV in Australia will now come with yet another worry – the appearance of tire deflators or, as they identify themselves, "tire extinguishers." This group of environmental activists claims larger cars are responsible for too many emissions, are a danger to communities, and occupy too much space in urban environments. Here's what you need to know.
The Tire Extinguishers represent a group of eco-warriors who want to discourage SUV ownership. They don't spare anyone, not even those driving small crossovers like the Hyundai Kona. The movement originated in the UK, where other similar organizations exist.
For example, the "Just Stop Oil" members wearing orange high-visibility jackets or pieces of clothing block public roads, disrupt public events and throw paint on various objects like works of art. Sometimes, they also use what's claimed to be biodegradable confetti. It's their way of protesting the use of gas, diesel, and other fossil fuels. Some have even reached airports and climbed on private jets!
But while Just Stop Oil is a tad bit organized with its impromptu manifestations, the Tire Extinguishers are an international leaderless movement. Last year, they even expanded to the US. However, not much has been heard about the American initiative since then. They're still active in Canada, though!
But now they're in Australia, too, and have already acted in Melbourne. More precisely, 30 SUVs had their tires deflated in the Toorak suburbs, an area considered to be inhabited by affluent Aussies. Fortunately, they didn't cut the rubber rings. The activists removed the tire air cap and just let the air out. They claim to use lentils, but some might use different objects.
Despite that, deflating a tire can still lead to some degree of damage because SUVs are generally heavier than sedans. In some cases, the weight can put too much pressure on the rubber and compromise the sidewall because the rims typically have thin edges. Replacing the tire could be necessary, depending on how bad the situation is.
Photo: The Tyre Extinguishers on Twitter
These protesters will act primarily at night, in public places. If you park your SUV on the side of the road, in front of your building, or anywhere else where there isn't enough lightning, someone working security, or motion-based alarm systems, you might wake up one morning to drive to work or to take the kids to school and discover that you need to put air in one or more of your vehicle's tires.
Catching the Tire Extinguishers in action is complicated, and discovering their identity is even more difficult. They usually wear dark clothes and face masks and don't stay around long.
Besides wanting to encourage people to look beyond SUVs for their next acquisition (including the all-electric ones, as past actions have proved), the Tire Extinguishers also want them banned from urban environments. They claim this type of vehicle is unnecessary and causes a disproportionate amount of issues for those living in dense environments.
The group also calls for more taxes for those who own all-wheel-drive high-riding automobiles.
The Tire Extinguishers invites more Australians to join the movement. They believe that deflating SUV tires makes them "safe" and think that the more activists there are acting at night, the less people will think about buying something like a Tesla Model X or a Toyota Rav4. Don't worry, though! The movement doesn't call for slashing tires or cutting valve stems, and it doesn't discriminate: pickup trucks (utes) are also targeted.
Be on the lookout for a leaflet put under your wipers! It might stop you from damaging your wheels. That's how the protesters inform victims of what happened to their SUV.
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