Interpretation ID: nht72-1.22

DATE: 09/27/72

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; R. L. Carter; NHTSA

TO: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of August 24, 1972, requesting an opinion as to the applicability of Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109 (49 CFA 471.109) and proposed Standard No. 110 (37 F.R. 13491, July 8, 1972) to tires inflated with "Permafoam" cellular foam rubber.

Although these tires contain other material in addition to air, we have decided that they should be considered "pneumatic tires" for the purpose of the application of Standard No. 109. The reasons for this decision are the fact that their Foam filling contains a substantial proportion of air under pressure, and their general similarity to conventional tires in regard to appearance, use, and load-deflection characteristics.

The NHTSA has also concluded, however, that these tires have desirable performance capabilities and should be available to the public, subject to conditions to assure their safe use, for the special purposes for which they are designed. Accordingly we have decided to initiate rulemaking to establish special requirements for these and similar tires. We plan to issue the appropriate notices in the near future.