Interpretation ID: aiam2319
Technical Manager
Pirelli Tire Corporation
600 Third Avenue
New York
New York 10016;
Dear Mr. Buzzi-Ferraris: I am writing in response to your March 12, 1976, letter to Mr. Rober Aubuchon of this agency, concerning the application of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 119, *New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars*, to motor driven cycles whose speed attainable in 1 mile is 30 mph or less.; You have inquired whether such vehicles may be equipped with tires tha --; >>>(i) 'Carry all the inscriptions required by labeling, plus th marking 'MAX SPEED' because speed restricted to less than 55 MPH -- S.6.5.'; (ii) 'Have passed the endurance test -- S.6.1, S.7.2 in accordance wit table III --- speed restricted service: 35 MPH'; (iii) 'have not been tested for high speed S.6.3-- in fact they ar speed restricted ...'<<<; an otherwise comply with the requirements of Standard No. 119. I assume that, where your letter refers to the marking 'MAX SPEED', yo intended 'MAX SPEED 35 MPH'. Although such labeling is not prohibited, the standard does not presently recognize a category of speed-restricted motorcycle tires. Tires for motor driven cycles are subject to the same performance requirements as other motorcycle tires. In particular, the schedule for endurance testing is that found in the 'motorcycle' entry of Table III, rather than the '35 m.p.h.' entry. Similarly, these tires are subject to the high speed performance requirements of S.6.3 without exception. An amendment of Standard No. 119 on this subject is being considered, but no firm decision has been made.; Standard No. 119 prohibits the manufacture of the tires that you hav described on and after March 1, 1975. Standard No. 120, *Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars*, prohibits the manufacture of motor-driven cycles equipped with such tires on and after September 1, 1976.; Sincerely, Stephen P. Wood, Assistant Chief Counsel