Interpretation ID: aiam2159
House of Representatives
Washington
D. C. 20515;
Dear Mr. Taylor: This is in reply to your letter of May 21, 1976, forwarding a plea fro Mr. Ralph O. Howard, Executive Vice President of the North Carolina Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, for help in changing Public Law 91-265, HR 10105, that would permit voluntary registration of tires. The law which became effective May 22, 1971, amended the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 to require tire manufacturers, including retreaders, to maintain records of the names and addresses of first purchasers. The law also authorized the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe procedures to be followed by distributors and dealers to assist manufacturers in securing the required information. In order to implement the law, our Regulation Part 574 (copy enclosed) specifies that tire dealers shall record the purchaser's name and address at time of sale.; The purpose of tire registration is to enable manufacturers to notif consumers in the event of defective or nonconforming tires. The Congress took steps in amending the Safety Act only after attempts by manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to inform owners of defective tires proved ineffective. Congressional action would again be necessary to change the law as Mr. Howard's letter requests.; To provide additional orientation pertinent to this subject, we ar enclosing a copy of Secretary Coleman's recent letter to the Honorable C. E. Wiggins.; Sincerely, Robert L. Carter, Associate Administrator, Motor Vehicl Programs;