Interpretation ID: 77-4.46

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 12/05/77

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; J. J. Levin, Jr.; NHTSA

TO: Rocky Mountain Bandag

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This responds to your October 19, 1977, letter asking whether the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has regulations that prohibit the use of retreaded tires on steering axles.

The NHTSA has performance regulations applicable to retreaded passenger car tires. The agency does not regulate the use of retreaded tires that meet those performance requirements. You should note that the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety has regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 393.75(d)) that prohibit the use of retreaded tires on the front wheels of buses under their jurisdiction. They do not prohibit the use of such retreaded tires on the steering axle of trucks, however.

SINCERELY,

ROCKY MOUNTAIN bandag

October 19, 1977

Director U. S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

We are in the business of cold process retreading truck tires.

Quite frequently, truck owners tell us there's a D.O.T. regulation that says retreaded tires cannot be used on steering axles. To our knowledge, there is no such regulation. If we're correct, would you please send a letter that says there is no D.O.T. regulation that disallows use of retreads on the steering axle?

William H. Loughran President