During a few days in Shenyang I noticed a number of cars that had little pieces of red cloth tied on their tires. Actually, once I noticed the pieces of cloth I started seeing them everywhere. A local acquaintance explained to me that it was a local custom to tie a piece of red cloth in this way on the tires of new cars—to bring the driver of the car good luck. Often the cloth was then left on the car until it naturally fell off. 

We both agreed, of course, that Chinese drivers can use all the luck they can get.