Interpretation ID: nht75-5.26

DATE: 09/18/75

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Frank A. Berndt; NHTSA

TO: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in response to your letter of July 30, 1975, in which you asked whether the uniform tire quality grading requirements for furnishing information to prospective purchasers of vehicles apply to prospective purchasers of vehicles other than passenger cars that may be equipped with passenger car tires. This was asked in light of the fact that the tire quality grading rule itself applies to tires manufactured for use on passenger cars

We do not consider that the requirements of @ 575.6(a) and (c), regarding the furnishing of consumer information to motor vehicle buyers and prospective purchasers, apply to the sale of trucks or other non-passenger-car vehicles where uniform tire quality grading information is concerned.

We recognize that the language of the regulation may not be entirely clear in this regard, and are considering an interpretive amendment to clarify it.

Sincerely,

July 30, 1975

James B. Gregory -- Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U. S. Department of Transportation

Re: Interpretation of Section (d)(1)(ii) of @ 575.104, Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards

Dear Dr. Gregory:

We are somewhat confused by certain of the requirements of @ 575.104, Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards, and would appreciate your clarification of them for us.

@ 575.104 (d)(1)(ii) specifies:

"In the case of information required in accordance with @ 575.6(c) to be furnished to prospective purchasers of motor vehicles and tires, each vehicle manufacturer and each tire manufacturer or brand name owner shall as part of that information list all possible grades for traction and temperature resistance, and restate verbatim the explanations for each performance area specified in Figure 2. . . ."

@ 575.104(c), Application, states that this section applies to new pneumatic tires for use on passenger cars after 1948.

Our question, therefore, is whether or not the requirements of @ 575.104(d)(1)(ii) apply to manufacturers of trucks for which passenger car tires are used.

Since this is an urgent matter, we would appreciate your response as soon as possible. Thank you.

Very truly yours,

TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. -- Y. UEDA FOR

K. Nakajima -- Director/General Manager, Factory Representative Office