Interpretation ID: nht79-4.31

DATE: 06/29/79

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Frank Berndt; NHTSA

TO: Volkswagen of America Inc.

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in response to your letter of June 1, 1979, regarding the provision of Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) information to vehicle first purchasers (49 CFR 575.104(d)(l)(iii)). You ask whether UTQG information must be provided to first purchasers of vehicles manufactured after the UTQG sidewall molding effective date for the type of tire used on the vehicle, if the vehicle is equipped with tires manufactured prior to the effective date.

Section 575.104(d)(l)(iii) requires that tire grading information be furnished, in the case of bias-ply tires,

". . . to the first purchaser of a new motor vehicle, other than a motor vehicle equipped with bias-ply tires manufactured prior to October 1, 1979, . . ."

Thus, UTQG first purchaser information is not required for vehicles manufactured after the bias-ply sidewall molding effective date of October 1, 1979, but equipped with tires manufactured prior to that date. The regulation applies in the same manner to vehicles equipped with bias-belted and radial tires manufactured prior to April 1, 1980, and October 1, 1980, respectively.

In order to avoid confusion regarding the date of manufacture of tires installed on particular vehicles, manufacturers may choose to supply UTQG information to all first purchasers of vehicles manufactured after the effective date for sidewall molding for the tire type used as standard equipment on the vehicles.