What is Footwear and Tire Track Examination?
Footwear and tire track examination is a sub-discipline of forensic science that deals with the
identification, comparison, and interpretation of impressions left by shoes, boots, or vehicle,
Motorcycle, Tricycles tires on a variety of substrates. Like fingerprints, these marks are
pattern evidence that arise because the outer surface of an object i.e, the sole of a shoe or
the tread of a tire carries a unique combination of manufactured and acquired features.
When that surface contacts a softer or receptive material, a negative image of the pattern is
transferred. The resulting impression can be examined to answer questions about the class
I.e, the type of shoe or tire and in many cases, the individual source of a particular shoe or
vehicle.
Footwear and Tire Track Evidence is very important in forensic investigations because, a
shoe print found at a burglary may match the sole of a suspect’s shoe therefore, such
person is a prime suspect and need to be investigated; The direction, depth, and spacing of
tire marks can indicate the path of a vehicle, its speed, and whether it braked which
automatically help a forensic scientist to reconstruct the event, a footwear impression can
exonerate or clears a suspect who claimed to have been elsewhere at the time a specific
crime is committed that is, clears a person of blame or guilt (exculpatory), It Provides
investigative leads even when a match is not found, that is, the class characteristics such as
the brand, size, tread pattern etc can focus a search on a limited range of products or
vehicles.
The impressions can be formed on various surfaces such as; sand, silt, clay, loam, Mud,
Fine dust or powder such as chalk flour, beaches, Snow, Ice, Gravel or small, Leaves or
other organic debris that can be compressed, wet concrete, candle wax, wet paint, solid
surfaces, tile, Wood, Metal surfaces such as a car hood that have a thin film of oil, dust, or
moisture, Carpet, Rugs, mats, and doormats, Clothing or other woven materials that have
been pressed into a soft underlying surface such as a shoe print on a shirt left on a couch,
Human skin such as bite marks, foot or hand prints left on a victim’s body, Animal fur, Plastic
sheeting, tarpaulins, Paper or cardboard that has been pressed into by a shoe print on a
newspaper left on a wet floor etc.
Footwear and tire track examination is the forensic discipline that evaluates and compares
impressions left by shoes, boots, bare feet, or vehicle tires on a variety of surfaces. These
impressions whether complete, partial, or only a small fragment can act as pattern evidence
because each shoe, boot, or tire possesses a distinctive combination of manufactured
design and acquired wear. When a shoe or tire is pressed onto a receptive substrate, its
unique characteristics are transferred to that surface, creating a record that can be analyzed
to answer investigative questions. An impression is formed when a shoe, boot, foot, or tire
contacts a substrate with sufficient force to deform the material. The resulting mark retains
the shape of the contacting surface, including tread patterns, logos, size indicators, and any
accidental damage such as cuts, stones, or uneven wear. The substrate may be soft (soil,
mud, sand, snow, wet concrete) or relatively hard (dust‑covered tile, painted metal), but in
either case the impression preserves a negative image of the original object.
Footwear Impressions can reveal the brand, model, size, and style of the shoe, as well as
individual wear traits that may be matched to a suspect’s footwear. Even a small fragment
can provide information about the wearer’s gait, weight distribution, and possible skeletal or
muscular characteristics while, Tire Track Impressions are the Tire marks left on roadways,
soft ground, or other surfaces record the tread design, tread depth, and wear pattern of a
vehicle’s tires. Because tire wear accumulates uniquely over time, these marks can be used
to link a specific vehicle to a crime scene or to reconstruct the dynamics of a traffic incident,
such as speed, direction, and braking behavior. Both footwear and tire‑track evidence are
admissible in court because they can help establish the presence of a particular person or
vehicle at a location, corroborate or refute alibi statements, and contribute to the overall
reconstruction of an event. The evidential value rests on the examiner’s ability to
demonstrate that the questioned impression shares class characteristics such as; tread
pattern, size and, individualizing features like a distinctive cut on a sole with a known source.
Footwear and tire‑track examination transforms ordinary surface marks into powerful
forensic evidence by capturing the unique patterns left by shoes, feet, or tires; investigators
can link suspects to scenes, reconstruct accidents, and provide objective scientific support
for legal decisions.
Types of footwear and tire track evidence examined in forensics
1. Patent (Visible) impressions
Patent, or visible, impressions are the most straightforward type of footwear or tire‑track
evidence encountered at a crime scene. They occur when a shoe, boot, or tire contacts a
smooth, non‑porous surface—such as polished concrete, tile, glass, metal, or a freshly
painted wall—under conditions that allow the pressure of the contact to transfer the surface
texture of the sole or tread directly onto the substrate. Because the receiving material is hard
enough to retain the imprint without distortion, the resulting mark is readily apparent to the
naked eye and often appears as a dark outline or a raised ridge that mirrors the pattern of
the contacting object. Patent or visible impressions provide a clear, high‑resolution record of
the contacting footwear or tire. Their distinct edges, detailed tread patterns, and ease of
collection make them a powerful component of footwear and tire‑track examinations, often
delivering immediate investigative leads and strong evidentiary support when properly
documented and preserved. Patent (Visible) impressions is a clear, detailed impression left
on a smooth surface, often with visible tread patterns. They are visible to the naked eye, are
often easy to photograph and retain clear details, such as tread patterns, shoe size, and
other distinctive features with a well-defined edges, making it easier to identify the shoe's
shape and size.
2. Plastic impressions:
Plastic impressions are three‑dimensional marks that form when a shoe, boot, or tire
presses into a soft, pliable substrate such as mud, wet clay, fresh wax, wet concrete, or thick
dust. As the receiving material is malleable, the force of the contact forces the substrate to
conform to every ridge, groove, logo, cut or stone embedded in the sole or tread. The
resulting imprint retains depth as well as surface detail, allowing an examiner to read not
only the pattern but also the pressure distribution, gait characteristics and any accidental
damage that may be present on the footwear or tire. Plastic or three‑dimensional
impressions are valuable forensic records that capture the full geometry of a shoe or tire
contact. Their depth, fidelity, and the ability to be reproduced as a physical cast or digital
model make them a cornerstone of footwear and tire‑track examination, providing
investigators with detailed, measurable evidence that can be pivotal in both investigative and
courtroom contexts. Therefore, plastic impressions are three-dimensional footwear
Impressions formed in soft, pliable materials like mud, clay, or wax. They are formed when a
shoe or footwear presses into a soft material, such as mud, clay, or wax, creating a
three-dimensional impression and are typically visible to the naked eye and can be easily
detected as they retain clear details, such as tread patterns, shoe size, and other distinctive
features.
3. Latent Impressions (Dust impressions):
Latent footwear impressions are marks that are created when a shoe or bare foot contacts a
surface but does not leave a readily visible trace. The contact may be brief, the pressure
light, and the substrate dry, so the resulting disturbance is limited to the displacement or
removal of a thin layer of dust, skin cells, oils, or other fine particles that normally coat most
indoor surfaces. Because the mark is essentially a subtle alteration of the surface’s
micro‑topography, it remains invisible to the naked eye under ordinary lighting conditions.
Latent impressions typically lack the crispness of patent or plastic marks because they are
formed by the removal or displacement of a thin layer of material, thereby forming images
with Low in Contrast, Partial image and Limited Detail. Nonetheless, even a partial latent
impression can provide valuable investigative leads because the presence of a foot print on
a particular carpet, for example, can indicate that a suspect entered a room and the size of
the impression can narrow the range of possible shoe sizes. Latent footwear impressions
represent a subtle but valuable category of pattern evidence and their formation relies on the
delicate interaction between a foot and a dust laden surface, and their detection demands
specialized techniques that render the invisible visible. While they may not always yield the
fine detail needed for a definitive identification, they nonetheless play an essential role in the
holistic investigation of a crime scene. Therefore, Latent footwear impressions are formed
when a shoe or footwear comes into contact with a surface, leaving behind a faint or invisible
impression. They can be made when a person walks on a dry floor with dry feet and can be
revealed using powders, chemicals, or alternate light sources (ALS). These Impressions are
visible as a disturbance or displacement of dust or powder on a surface, they are not readily
visible to the naked eye and so require specialized techniques and equipment, such as
dusting with powder, using alternative light sources, or applying chemical treatments, to
make them visible. They often lack clear details, making it challenging to identify specific
footwear characteristics commonly found on surfaces like carpets, rugs, tiles and smooth
floors.
_*Collection of footwear and tire track evidence*_
Collecting footwear and tire‑track evidence involves the systematic gathering and
preservation of physical impressions left by shoes or vehicle tires at a crime scene or
accident site, and this evidence is crucial to investigations because it can be matched to a
specific individual or vehicle to aid suspect identification, its pattern analysis can reconstruct
the sequence of actions surrounding the incident, the temporal clues it provides help
establish a chronology of events, and recurring similar impressions across multiple scenes
can reveal links between separate crimes.
_*Evidence Detection, Recovery, and Handling procedure*_
The collection of footwear and tire track evidence involves a number of procedures that
include the following;
1. Initial Scene Assessment by surveying the area to locate all visible impressions such as
footprints, tire marks, partial prints, etc. The substrate such as soil, dust, snow, carpet,
concrete and the environmental conditions such as weather, temperature, moisture must be
Identified because the collection method and preservations will depend on it.
2. Documentation by photographing each impression with a scale like ruler and a color
reference card, Record the location taking cognizance of the coordinates, distance from
fixed points such as from the door or window, orientation that is, direction of travel, and any
distinguishing features such as size, pattern, wear marks etc., and Sketch the layout of
impressions if multiple are present, showing their relationship to each other and to other
evidence.
3. Preservation of Impressions by Protecting the impression from contamination or
destruction which can be done by covering with a clean, rigid board or a protective box,
gently immobilize the substrate If fragile e.g sand, with a light spray of fixative like hair‑spray
before covering and avoid walking on or driving over the marks.
4. Collection by casting which is the most common. A castinging material like the dental
stone, plaster of Paris, or silicone rubber will be prepared by mixing accordingly based on
the manufacturer’s instructions and gently pouring onto the impression, allowing it to flow
into all details and be allowed for 30 – 60 minutes, then carefully lifted by supporting the back
side. If the print is a shallow or dusty print, adhesive lifters, gelatin lifters, or electrostatic dust
lifters are recommended to transfer the print onto a transparent film. And if it's a biological
material on the print then, swabbing is recommended. Lightly swab the surface with a sterile
cotton swab moistened with distilled water and then, place the swab in a sealed tube for
DNA analysis.
5. Packaging and Labeling by placing each cast, lift, or swab in a separate, labeled,
tamper‑evident container, Include a chain of custody label with date, time, collector’s name,
case number, and a unique identifier and keep the casts dry and protected from extreme
temperatures.
6. Transportation to the Laboratory by moving in a Strong, solidly built, and able to withstand
rough handling, pressure, or harsh conditions without breaking or being easily damaged
container in an upright position to avoid damage. Padded containers are recommended for
fragile casts and also, Maintain a secure chain of custody during transfer.
7. Laboratory Receipt and Processing by ensuring evidence are Logged into the lab’s intake
system, confirming that seals are intact and casts must be Store in a controlled environment
with normal room temperature and low humidity until analysis is set to be carried out with
detailed examinations.
