Interpretation ID: nht70-1.6

DATE: 05/01/70

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; R. A. Diaz; NHTSA

TO: Donald B. Haaversen

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: Thank you for your letter of March 9, 1970, to the National Highway Safety Bureau, concerning our Federal motor vehicle tire standards.

The only tire standard promulgated to date is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109, "New Pneumatic Tires-Passenger Cars" which was effective January 1, 1968. This standard specifies minimum performance for size, strength, endurance, high speed laboratory testing and labeling. For your information, I have enclosed a copy of Standard No. 109 and No. 110 with amendments.

The replies to your specific questions are as follows:

1.Question: New American made tires have DOT load ranges, load capacity and inflation pressures molded into the sidewall. Is this required (that they be permanently marked), or is it sufficient to affix a temporary marking (such as a sticker) with this same information?

Response: Section S4.3 states that this information shall be permanently molded into or onto all new passenger car tires manufactured after August 1, 1968. If the tire was manufactured between January 1, 1968 and July 31, 1968 the labeling requirements may be met by use of a label or tag.

2. Question: How is load capacity information arrived at? Is it by manufacturer certification, government conducted tests, or some other method?

Response: The load/inflation schedule is calculated by use of empirical formulas and coordinated through the various Tire and(Illegible Word) Associations as well as the Society of Automotive Engineers.

3. Question: Is it necessary that these tires be subject to safety tests? These particular tires are already imported by another organization and may already have passed the necessary tests, if any.Response: The application of the "DOT recital to a tire, is the tire manufacturers self certification that his tire conforms to all the minimum performance standards of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.

I have also enclosed for your review and information the following data:

1. U.S. Customs Regulations for Importation of Motor Vehicles and Items of Motor Vehicle Equipment.

2. Automobiles Imported Into the United States.