Your Technology

By Anita Hamilton

Tireless Tires

That cushion of air in your car tire provides a level of safety and comfort--until it blows. Uniroyal's new NailGuard tires, on the market this month, come with an inner lining made from a sticky rubber compound that automatically reseals the tire after nail punctures up to three-sixteenths of an inch wide. Unlike "run-flat" tires, which cost hundreds of dollars extra, NailGuards cost just $10 more per tire.

Digital Dressing Rooms

Those trips back and forth to the dressing room with armloads of clothing to try on and mix and match put a real drag on shopping sprees. In September you can avoid the hassle with a $40 software investment. Fashion Trip from ModaCAD lets teens test different outfits on a virtual mannequin. Shoppers can try out clothes from more than a dozen makers--including Esprit, Levis and Wet Seal. Too bad there's no guarantee the outfits will look as good on you as they do onscreen.

Soccer Moms, Take Note

An ill-fitting soccer shin guard might not make the difference between winning and losing, but it can make a youngster pretty miserable. First Shield shin guards from Parker Athletic in Charlotte, N.C., can stop those complaints before they start. Using the same fiber-glass material used on molded casts, the guards actually mold to the shape of each child's leg. First applied in a wet, flexible form, they dry into a rock-solid fit. A soft outside layer keeps them from chafing. Score one for comfort.

--By Anita Hamilton