Interpretation ID: nht90-1.7

TYPE: Interpretation-NHTSA

DATE: January 7, 1990

FROM: Perry E. Faulkner -- Foremost Tire & Retreading

TO: William "Bill" McCollum -- Fifth Congressional District

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 3-13-91 from Jamie McLaughlin Fish to Bill McCollum (A37; Std. 117; Std. 119); Also attached to letter dated 6-18-81 from Frank Berndt to Roy Littlefield (Std. 119)

TEXT:

The following question was submitted to the Department of Transportation for verification.

"Are casings purchased overseas, for recapping in the United States, required to have the Department of Transportation, D.O.T. number on the casing. This D.O.T. number signifies that the Federal Excise tax has been paid and that the tire meets or exceed s Federal standards?"

Your office gave me the phone number for Tire Compliance at 1-915-655-0546, Yates Galloway. He confirmed that in the Code of Federal Regulation, 571.117-S 5.2.3, that any tire that is recapped in the United States must have imprinted from the Factory of origination the Size of the tire and D.O.T. number. Any casing brought into the United States without the D.O.T. number cannot be sold recapped.

For our records, this is my formal request for an official letter from Mr. Galloway, for our protection. There are numerous tire dealers who are trying to sell large volume of tires from overseas market without the D.O.T. number. If the casing was to b lowout and a death was the result the person that sold the casing would have the total responsibility for selling a casing that does not meet Federal Standards.

Thanking you in advance for your valued time and consideration on this very important and life safety request. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the office.