Interpretation ID: aiam4054
Metzeler Motorcycle Tire
Agent Gregg
Inc.
144 Railroad Avenue
Suite 215
Edmonds
WA 98020;
Dear Mr. Gregg: This responds to your letter to Steve Kratzke of my staff, seeking a interpretation of Standard No. 119, *New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars (49 CFR Part 571.119). Specifically, you asked if a motorcycle tire could have its maximum load capacity labeled on the sidewall as follows:; >>>At 60 MPH Max load _____lbs. at _____ psi cold.<<< Such labeling would violate Standard No. 119, as explained below. Section S6.5 of Standard No. 119 requires that certain information b labeled on the sidewall of all tires to which the standard applies. Section S6.5(d) requires the maximum load rating and corresponding inflation pressure to appear on all motorcycle tires as follows:; >>>Max load _____lbs at _____psi cold.<<< No speed rating or restriction may be given in conjunction with th maximum load rating on the sidewall of the tire. That rating, as its name implies, is intended to alert consumers to the tire's *maximum* capabilities.; A manufacturer may label a speed restriction on its tires to aler consumers to the tire's maximum speed if that maximum is 55 miles per hour (mph) or less. Section S6.5(e) permits speed restrictions of 55 mph or less to be labeled on the sidewall of the tire as follows:; >>>Max Speed _____mph. <<