Ron Smith and Associates, Incorporated is pleased to announce two new online services: Outsole Search and Tire Tread Design Search.  These specialized services aid the investigator in the analysis and classification of crime scene footwear and tire track impression evidence. 

As experienced crime scene investigators, we fully understand the need for law enforcement agencies to be able to identify the type and brand of shoe or tire involved in crime scenes as rapidly as possible. These new online services can meet that immediate investigative need and allow the investigator to be more proactive in their ongoing criminal investigation.  

Our company has the ability to search and retrieve vital information related to questioned footwear and tire track impression evidence through one of the most up-to-date computerized databases of reference footwear outsoles and tire tread designs. With this information quickly in hand, the investigator can conduct interrogations and execute search warrants from a position of knowledge; thereby, eliminating the need to gather multiple pairs of shoes or multiple tires for laboratory examination. Our ability to conduct additional research through the manufacturers themselves can also provide probative information regarding the uniqueness and distribution of a particular footwear or tire.

Outsole Search is a service through which a questioned footwear impression can be submitted to RS&A and searched through a reference outsole database. If a potential matching footwear outsole is located, the investigator will be supplied with photographs of the outsole design along with photographs of the “uppers”, if available. 

If requested, RS&A can provide the agency with valuable additional research related to the shoes which were identified as a result of the database search. 

For example, these ECCO boots were bought at "Tradehome," which is a shoe store with  ninety-one (91) locations throughout the U.S. The boots were made specifically for Tradehome, but were also sent out to ECCO outlets, as well as "Designer Shoe Warehouse" (DSW buys discontinued styles from wholesale companies). Five thousand (5000) pairs were sent to Tradehome, twelve hundred (1200) pairs were sent to ECCO Outlet Stores and twelve hundred (1200) pairs were sent to DSW. The boot is very similar to a normal ECCO boot; however, where you would normally see ECCO in the heel of the boot you will see three round dots.

Tire Tread Design Search is a service through which a questioned tire tread impression can be submitted to RS&A and searched through a reference tire tread design database. If a potential matching tire is located, the investigator will be supplied with photographs of the tire.  

If requested, RS&A can also assist you with additional research related to the known tire and the questioned impression.

For example, the questioned tire tread is from a light truck tire made for traction, containing no grooves.  This tread is consistent with a BF Goodrich, All Terrain T/A tire, which went into production in 2001. Production of tires with this particular tire tread ceased prior to the end of that same year. With the DOT number, the actual plant which manufactured the tire can be determined along with the date the tire was manufactured.

How to Proceed

Step #1:  Send an email to footwearandtires@ronsmithandassociates.com  to request that an electronic database search form to be returned to you via email or you may download the form here:

Step #2:  Complete the electronic database search request form and submit your request form along with the image(s) of your questioned footwear or tire impression(s).

One of our footwear examiners, certified by the International Association for Identification (I.A.I), will conduct a database search along with any additional research that might be requested. The results of the initial database search will be emailed as soon as the requested examinations have been completed, usually within 24 to 48 hours. The results of the additional research will be forwarded to the agency immediately upon completion.

This email will be followed by a formal written report describing all the examinations performed and results from our searches.

We look forward to serving your agency’s needs through the addition of these new online forensic footwear and tire track services.  If you have specific questions regarding any of these specialized forensic services, please feel free to contact our senior footwear consultant, Dwane Hilderbrand at 1-480-860-1002 or via email at dwane@ronsmithandassociates.com. We invite you to visit the rest of our website for a complete listing of all of our forensic services.