Interpretation ID: 1982-3.37

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 12/30/82

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Frank Berndt; NHTSA

TO: ANONYMOUS (CONFIDENTIAL)

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT:

Dear

This responds to your recent request for an interpretation of the requirements of Standard No. 120, Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars. Specifically, you asked if that standard allows a manufacturer to equip a motorcycle with passenger car tires and rims.

Standard No. 120 permits a motorcycle to be equipped with passenger car tires and rims, provided that those tires and rims meet all the requirements of the standard. Section S5.1.1 of Standard No. 120 requires all motorcycles equipped with tires that meet either the requirements of Standard No. 109, which applies to new passenger car tires, or Standard No. 119, which applies to new tires for use on motor vehicles other than passenger cars. Thus, passenger car tires can be used on new motorcycles, as long as those passenger car tires are certified as complying with Standard No. 109.

Motorcycle rims are subject to two requirements. First, section S5.1.1 requires that the rims be listed by the manufacturer of the tires installed on the motorcycle as suitable for use with those tires. If you use rims which are the proper size for the passenger car tires to by used, this requirement is easily met by passenger car rims. Second, rims used on motorcycles must meet the rim marking requirements, because the rim manufacturers do not mold the required information onto passenger car rims. However, if you can obtain passenger car rims marked with the information set forth in section S5.2 and listed by the passenger car tire manufacturer as appropriate for use with the passenger car tires, those rims could be used on new motorcycles.

A copy of this letter with your name and address deleted, along with your request for an interpretation of Standard No. 120, has been placed in the public docket under interpretations of Standard No. 120. Should you have any further questions or need further information on this matter, please contact Mr. Stephen Kratzke of my staff at (202) 426-2992.

Sincerely,

Original Signed By Frank Berndt Chief Counsel

This request for interpretation is with reference to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars. We would like to confirm that Standard No. 120 permits the use of passenger car tires and rims on a motorcycle.

We believe that the use of passenger car tires and rims on a motorycle is permitted because Section S5.1.1 of Standard No. 120 states that "...each vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires for highway service shall be equipped with tires that meet the requirements of Standard No. 109 ( 571.109) or Standard No. 119 ( 571.119), and with rims that are listed by the manufacturer of the tires as suitable for use with those tires...". In our opinion, this permits the use of passenger car tires and rims on motorcycles, provided the tires comply with Standard No. 109 and the rims are an appropriate match for the tires and also comply with Standard No. 110.