‘This is nuts’: New Jersey mechanic lifts customer’s car for routine check, but what’s holding the tires together leaves him speechless

A mechanic in New Jersey was doing a regular check on a customer’s car when he found something shocking. The car’s tires were so badly damaged that they were actually being held together with duct tape. This wild discovery quickly went viral online and started a big debate about whether New Jersey should bring back full vehicle safety checks to keep people safe on the roads.

The amazing video was posted by Will Niven on his TikTok account, @willniven. It shows what can happen when car maintenance goes really wrong. Niven works as an auto mechanic and also races stock cars. He was checking a customer’s car that only came in for an emissions test. The 50-second video has gotten over 109,000 views. You won’t believe what he found.

All the tires were in bad shape, but one was completely ruined. It had huge pieces missing, which destroyed its strength so badly that duct tape was the only thing keeping the driver from a total disaster. “Duct tape. This is nuts,” Niven says in the video. He points out how the quick fix made the tire catch on the fender. This is truly scary stuff. The tires were also very old, going all the way back to 2015.

Safety inspections could prevent dangerous situations like this

Niven wasn’t just worried about the car itself. He was concerned about everyone’s safety on the road. “I mean, he drove around like this,” Niven said. He added, “At what point does the safety of the other people on the road come into play?”

This situation shows a huge problem with New Jersey’s current rules. While many states require yearly, full safety checks, New Jersey got rid of required safety inspections for most regular cars back in 2010. The state said that modern cars are safer and that cutting these checks would save people money. This isn’t the first time New Jersey residents faced unexpected situations that left them speechless.

Now, the state inspection program only focuses on environmental rules. It completely ignores important safety parts like tires, brakes, and suspension systems. This means a car with dangerous mechanical problems, like the one Niven found, can legally drive on public roads.

Some lamented the relaxed regulations in the comment sections. One user wrote: “We would probably have a lot less accidents if we inspected for safety in this state it amazes me some of these cars in my bay.”

However, some also hared their bitter their experiences in states with strict rules. One commenter argued, saying, “Until you live in PA and you realize you have to spend $2,500 on a new exhaust system on your 7-year-old car because there’s a little rust.” The debate over state regulations mirrors recent political discussions, including Barack Obama’s involvement in New Jersey politics.

This whole incident is about more than just one car. It shows the conflict between personal responsibility and public safety. Chloe expressed the frustration many drivers feel, asking, “So I hit ONE pothole and blow a tire but then THIS GUY gets to drive around WITH THOSE TIRES?”

These worries are totally valid. Tire-related problems cause about 11,000 crashes every year, leading to around 200 deaths. Tire failure is especially dangerous on highways where speeds are higher, often causing rollovers and big pile-ups. When you have duct-taped tires on the road, you’re not just risking your own life. You’re putting everyone else in danger too.